THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 


GIFT  OF 

Estate  of 

Ernst  and  Eleanor 

van  LUben  Sels 


The 

Wonder  Clock 


WONDER 


CLOCK 


Harper  j>  Brothers  J892 


Copyright,  1887,  by  HARPER  &  BROTHERS, 


All  rights  reserved. 


EDUC.- 
PSYCH. 
LIBRARY 


GIFT 


PREFACE. 


PUT  on  my  dream -cap  one  day  and  stepped  into  Won- 
derland. 

Along  the  road  I  jogged  and  never  dusted  my  shoes, 
and    all    the    time    the    pleasant   sun    shone   and    never 
burned    my    back,  and    the   little   white    clouds   floated 
across  the  blue   sky  and  never  let  fall  a   drop  of   rain 
to  wet  my  jacket.     And  by  and  by  I  came  to  a  steep  hill. 

I  climbed  the  hill,  though  I  had  more  than  one  tumble  in  doing 
it,  and  there,  on  the  tip-top,  I  found  a  house  as  old  as  the  world  itself. 

That  was  where  Father  Time  lived ;  and  who  should  sit  in  the  sun 
at  the  door,  spinning  away  for  dear  life,  but  Time's  Grandmother  herself ; 
and   if  you  would  like  to  know  how  old  she  is  you  will  have  to  climb 
to  the  top  of  the  church  steeple  and  ask  the  wind  as  he  sits  upon  the 
weather-cock,  humming  the  tune  of  Over-yonder  song  to  himself. 
"  Good-morning,"  says  Time's  Grandmother  to  me. 
"  Good-morning,"  says  I  to  her. 
"  And  what  do  you  seek  here  ?"  says  she  to  me. 
"  I  come  to  look  for  odds  and  ends,"  says  I  to  her. 
"  Very  well,"  says  she ;  "  just  climb  the  stairs  to  the  garret,  and  there 
you  will  find  more  than  ten  men  can  think  about." 

"  Thank  you,"  says  I,  and  up  the  stairs  I  went.  There  I  found  all 
manner  of  queer  forgotten  things  which  had  been  laid  away,  nobody 
but  Time  and  his  Grandmother  could  tell  where. 


132 


vi  PREFACE. 

Over  in  the  corner  was  a  great,  tall  clock,  that  had  stood  there  silently 
with  never  a  tick  or  a  ting  since  men  began  to  grow  too  wise  for  toys 
and  trinkets. 

But  I  knew  very  well  that  the  old  clock  was  the 

Wonder  Clock; 
so  down  I  took  the  key  and  wound  it — gurr !   gurr !   gurr ! 

Click  !  buzz  !  went  the  wheels,  and  then — tick-tock  !  tick-tock  !  for  the 
Wonder  Clock  is  of  that  kind  that  it  will  never  wear  out,  no  matter 
how  long  it  may  stand  in  Time's  garret. 

Down  I  sat  and  watched  it,  for  every  time  it  struck  it  played  a  pretty 
song,  and  when  the  song  was  ended  —  click !  click !  —  out  stepped  the 
drollest  little  puppet -figures  and  went  through  with  a  dance,  and  I  saw 
it  all  (with  my  dream-cap  upon  my  head). 

But  the  Wonder  Clock  had  grown  rusty  from  long  standing,  and 
though  now  and  then  the  puppet-figures  danced  a  dance  that  I  knew  as 
well  as  I  know  my  bread-and-butter,  at  other  times  they  jigged  a  step 
I  had  never  seen  before,  and  it  came  into  my  head  that  maybe  a  dozen 
or  more  puppet-plays  had  become  jumbled  together  among  the  wheels 
back  of  the  clock-face. 

So  there  I  sat  in  the  dust  watching  the  Wonder  Clock,  and  when  it 
had  run  down  and  the  tunes  and  the  puppet-show  had  come  to  an  end, 
I  took  off  my  dream  -  cap,  and — whisk  ! — there  I  was  back  home  again 
among  my  books,  with  nothing  brought  away  with  me  from  that  country 
but  a  little  dust  which  I  found  sticking  to  my  coat,  and  which  I  have 
never  brushed  away  to  this  day. 

Now  if  you  also  would  like  to  go  into  Wonderland,  you  have  only 
to  hunt  up  your  dream-cap  (for  everybody  has  one  somewhere  about  the 
house),  and  to  come  to  me,  and  I  will  show  you  the  way  to  Time's  garret. 

That  is  right !     Pull  the  cap  well  down  about  your  ears. 
******* 

Here  we  are !     And  now  I  will  wind  the  clock.      Gurr !   gurr !   gurr ! 

Tick-tock  !   tick-tock  ! 


I.  Bearskin.  ....... 

II.  The  Water  of  Life       .  .  .  ... 

III.  How  One  Turned  his  Trouble  to  Some  Account 

IV.  How  Three  Went  out  into  the  Wide  World. 

V.  The  Clever  Student  and  the  Master  of  Black  Arts   . 
VI.  The  Princess  Golden  Hair  and  the  Great  Black  Raven 
VII.  Cousin  Greylegs,  the  Great  Red  Fox,  and  Grandfather  Mole 
VIII.  One  Good  Turn  Deserves  Another     .... 

IX.  The  White  Bird 

X.  How  the  Good  Gifts  were  Used  by  Two 
XL  How  Boots  Befooled  the  King  .... 

XII.  The  Step-mother  ...... 

XIII.  Master  Jacob     ....... 

XIV.  Peterkin  and  the  Little  Grey  Hare     .... 
XV.  Mother  Hildegarde        ...... 

XVI.  Which  is  Best    , 


PAGE 

I 

15 

27 

39 
49 
63 
77 
89 
105 

121 

135 
149 

161 

175 
189 
203 


Vlll 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


XVII.  The  Simpleton  and  his  Little  Black  Hen 
XVIII.  The  Swan  Maiden 

XIX.  The  Three  Little  Pigs  and  the  Ogre  . 
XX.  The  Staff  and  the  Fiddle 
XXI.  How  the  Princess's  Pride  was  Broken 
XXII.  How  Two  Went  into  Partnership 

XXIII.  King  Stork         .  .  . 

XXIV.  The  Best  that  Life  has  to  Give 


PAGE 
217 

229 
.     241 

•  253 
267 

.     279 
291 

•  305 


f    lustrations. 


Frontispiece. 
Head-piece  — Preface    . 
Head-piece — Table  of  Contents 
Head-piece — List  of  Illustrations 


Page 
V 

vii 
ix 


ONE    O'CLOCK 

Head-piece — Bearskin  .... 

The  Baby  drifts  to  the  River's  Bank  in  the  Basket 
Bearskin  parts  from  the  Princess 
The  Princess  weeps          .... 
Bearskin  and  the  Swineherd  feast  together 


3 

5 

9 
10 

12 


TWO   O'CLOCK. 

Head-piece — The  Water  of  Life  .  .  .  . 

The  King  gazes  upon  the  Picture 
The  North  Wind  flies  with  the  Faithful  Servant 
The  King  brings  the  Water  of  Life  to  the  Princess 
The  Faithful  Servant  gives  the  King  his  Golden  Bracelet 


'5 
*7 
19 

21 
23 
25 


THREE    O'CLOCK 

Head-piece — How  One  Turned  his  Trouble  to  Some  Account 
The  Soldier  takes  Trouble  to  Town 
The  Soldier  brings  Trouble  to  the  King    . 
The  Giants  fight  one  another 
27ie  Rich  Man  takes  Trouble  home 


27 
29 
3i 
33 
35 
37 


LIST  OF   ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Page 

FOUR   O'CLOCK           .         .   .            .  39 

Head-piece — How  Three  went  out  into  the  Wide  World            .             .             .  41 

The  Grey  Goose  meets  the  Sausage           .             .             .             .             .  43 

The  Great  Red  Fox  calls  upon  the  Cock  .             .             .             .             .  45 

The  Great  Red  Fox  calls  upon  the  Sausage          ....  46 

The  Great  Red  Fox  rests  softly    .             .             .             .             .             .  47 


FIVE    O'CLOCK  .  49 

Head-piece — The  Clever  Student  and  the  Master  of  Black  Arts  .  .  51 

A  Princess  walks  beside  the  River  .  .  .  .  .  53 

The  Clever  Student  and  the  Princess     "  .  .  .  .  .  55 

The  Master  of  Black  Arts  and  the  Little  Black  Hen        .  .  .  57 

The  Master  of  Black  Arts  is  caught  in  his  Tricks  ...  60 


SIX  O'CLOCK  .            .  .  63 

Head-piece — The  Princess  Golden  Hair  and  the  Great  Black  Raven    .  "'  *  65 

The  King  meets  the  Great  Black  Raven  .             .             .             .  .  67 

The  Princess  Golden  Hair  drinks             .             .             .             .  .  69 

Princess  Golden  Hair  comes  to  Death's  Door       .  .             .  .  71 

The  Princess  finds  the  Prince      .             .             .  .             .  •  75 

SEVEN  O'CLOCK  .          ,.  .  77 

Head-piece — Cousin  Grey  legs,  the  Great  Red  Fox,  and  Grandfather  Mole        .  79 

Cousin  Greylegs  and  the  Great  Red  Fox  go  to  the  Fair  .             .  .  8 1 

Cousin  Greylegs  runs  away  with  the  Bag            .  .             .  .  83 

The  Great  Red  Fox  meets  Grandfather  Mole       .  .             .  .  85 

The  Great  Red  Fox  tries  the  Fire             .             .  .             .  .  87 

EIGHT  O'CLOCK  ...  89 

Head-piece — One  Good  Turn  Deserves  Another           .  .             .  .  91 

The  Young  Fisherman  catches  a  Strange  Fish      .  .             .  .  93 

The  Young  Fisherman  and  the  Grey  Master        .  .             .  .  97 

The  Grey  Master  is  caught  in  the  Water             .  .             .  ..  j  o  i 

The  Princess  finds  the  Young  Fisherman              .  .             .  .103 


LIST  OF   ILLUSTRATIONS.  xi 


Page 

NINE    O'CLOCK  .             .           105 

Head-piece— The  White  Bird              .  107 

The  Prince  knocks  at  the  Door  of  the  Poor  Little  House  .                                      109 

The  Prince  finds  the  Three  Giants  sleeping  in 

The  Prince  finds  the  Sword  of  Brightness  115 

The  White  Bird  knows  the  Prince            .             .  .             •              •           119 


TEN  O'CLOCK  121 

Head-piece — How  the  Good  Gifts  were  used  by  Two    .  123 

St.  Nicholas  knocks  at  the  Rich  Man's  Door  .                         125 

St.  Nicholas  in  the  Poor  Man's  House     .  127 

The  Poor  Man  welcomes  St.  Christopher  129 

The  Saints  feast  in  the  Rich  Man's  House           .  131 

ELEVEN  O'CLOCK  .            .            .           135 

Head-piece — How  Boots  befooled  the  King       .  137 

Peter  goes  to  the  King's  Castle     .  139 

Paul  comes  Home  again  ...  14 T 

The  Old  Woman  smashes  her  Pots  and  Crocks    .  143 

The  Councillor  finds  a  Wisdom-sack  145 

) 

TWELVE    O'CLOCK  149 

Head-piece — The  Stepmother   ....  151 

The  Step-daughter  follows  the  Golden  Ball           .  153 

The  Young  King  brings  the  Maiden  up  from  the  Pit  i$5 

The  Step-mother  bewitches  the  Young  Queen          .  .                                     15  7 

The  Young  King  caresses  the  White  Dove  .             .                         159 

ONE   O'CLOCK  .            .                       161 

Head-piece — Master  Jacob      .                          •  •             •                        163 

Master  Jacob  brings  his  Fat  Pig  to  Town            .  .                                      165 

Master  Jacob  and  his  Black  Goat           .  •                         167 

The  Three  Cronies  and  the  Black  Goat   ...  1 7 r 

Master  Jacob  meets  the  Three  Cronies     .             .  .             •                        173 


xii  LIST   OF   ILLUSTRATIONS. 


*  Page 

TWO   O'CLOCK  175 

Head-piece — Peterkin  and  the  Little  Grey  Hare  177 

Peterkin  in  his  Fine  Clothes         .  179 

Peterkin  carries  away  the  Gianfs  Goose .  183 

Peterkin  brings  the  Silver  Bell  to  the  King          .  185 

Peterkin  combs  the  Giant 's  Hair .  .  .  .  .  187 


THREE   O'CLOCK  189 

Head-piece — Mother  Hildegarde          ...  .191 

The  Princess  comes  to  Mother  Hildegarde1  s  Door  193 

The  Princess  looks  into  the  Jar  .  .  195 

The  Wood-pigeons  feed  the  Princess          .             .  .  .  .           197 

Mother  Hildegarde  carries  away  the  Baby           .  199 

FOUR   O'CLOCK  ...  203 

Head-piece — Which  is  Best  1  .             .             .             .  .  .  ..205 

The  Rich  Brother  leaves  the  Poor  Brother  in  Blindness  .  .  .  207 

The  Poor  Man  finds  the  Little  Door       .             .  .209 

The  Poor  Man  finds  that  which  is  the  Best         .  .  .  .           211 

The  Rich  Man  finds  that  which  he  Deserves        .  .  .  ,           213 

FIVE   O'CLOCK  .  .  .          217 

Head-piece — The  Simpleton  and  his  Little  Black  Hen  .  .  .  .           219 

Caspar  starts  to  Town  with  his  Little  Black  Hen  .  .  .           221 

Caspar  finds  a  Bag  of  Money      .             .  .  .  223 

Three  of  them  share  the  Money    .             .             .  .  .225 

Caspar  rides  to  the  King" s  Castle                          .  .  .  .           227 

SIX  O'CLOCK.  ...  229 

Head-piece — The  Swan  Maiden           .            .             .  .  .  .231 

The  Swan  carries  the  Prince  on  its  Back              .  .  .  .           233 

The  Prince  comes  to  the  Three-eyed  Witch's  House  .  .  .           235 

The  Swan  Maiden  helps  the  Young  Prince          ,  .  .  .           237 

The  Witch  and  the  Woman  of  Honey  and  Meal  •  .  .  .           239 


LIST  OF   ILLUSTRATIONS.  xiii 


Page 

SEVEN  O'CLOCK  .  241 

Head-piece — The  Three  Little  Pigs  and  the  Ogre  .  .  .  .  243 

The  Ogre  meets  the  Three  Little  Pigs  in  the  Forest  .  .  .  245 

The  Ogre  climbs  the  Tree  .  .  .  .  .  247 

'  The  Ogre  shuts  his  Eyes  and  counts  .  .  .  .  249 

The  Ogre  sticks  fast  in  the  Window  .  .  .'•••  •  •  251 


EIGHT  O'CLOCK  253 

Head-piece— The  Staff  and  the  Fiddle              .             .  .  .  .           255 

The  Fiddler  helps  the  Old  Woman           .            .  .  .  .           257 

The  Fiddler  and  the  Dwarf        .             .             ,-  •  Jfl  .           259 

The  Fiddler  finds  the  Princess      .             .            .  .  .  .           261 

The  Fiddler  and  the  Little  Black  Mannikin         .  .  .  .           263 

NINE   O'CLOCK  ...  267 

Head-piece — How  the  Princess's  Pride  was  broken       ,  .  .  .269 

The  Gooseherd plays  with  the  Golden  Ball          .  .  .  .           271 

The  King  peeps  over  the  Hedge    .            ...  .  .  .           273 

The  Princess  takes  her  Eggs  to  Market   ,             .  .  .  .           275 

The  Princess  knows  the  Young  King       .             .  .  .  .           277 

TEN  O'CLOCK  .  .  .          279 

Head-piece — How  Two  Went  into  Partnership             .  .  .  .281 

The  Great  Red  Fox  goes  to  the  Store-house          .  »  .  .           283 

The  Great  Red  Fox  frightens  Father  Goat         ....  285 

The  Great  Red  Fox  and  Uncle  Bear  at  the  Store-house   •  .  .  287 

The  Bear  and  the  Fox  go  to  Farmer  John's  again  .  .  .           289 

ELEVEN  O'CLOCK  .  .  .291 

Head-piece — King  Stork          .            .            .            .  .  .  .293 

The  Drummer  helps  the  Old  Man           ,             .  .  .  .           295 

The  Princess  comes  forth  from  the  Castle  at  Night  .  .  .           297 

The  Drummer  helps  himself        .             .             .  ,  .  .299 

The  Drummer  catches  the  One-eyed  Raven            ....  303 


XIV 


LIST   OF   ILLUSTRATIONS. 


TWELVE   O'CLOCK 

Head-piece — The  Best  that  Life  has  to  Give    . 

The  Blacksmith  steals  the  Dwarf's  Pine-cones 
The  Blacksmith  chooses  the  Raven 
The  Blacksmith  brings  the  Little  Bird  to  the  Queen 
The  Young  Blacksmith  Forges  the  Ring  . 


Page 
3°5 

307 
3°9 


317 


K 

P 


One  O'clock* 


e  of  the  C70c£,and  silence  deep 


The  old  House-Cat  comes  creepy-creep 
With  soft  feet  goes  from  room  to  room 
Her  green  eyes  shiningthrough  the  * 

And  finds  all  fast  l 


K.P. 


I. 


HERE  was  a  king  travelling  through  the  country,  and 
he  and  those  with  him  were  so  far  away  from  home 
that  darkness  caught  them  by  the  heels,  and  they  had 
to  stop  at  a  stone  mill  for  the  night,  because  there 
was  no  other  place  handy. 

While  they  sat  at  supper  they  heard  a  sound  in 
the  next  room,  and  it  was  a  baby  crying. 

The  miller  stood  in  the  corner,  back  of  the  stove, 
with  his  hat  in  his  hand.     "  What  is  that  noise  ?"  said  the  king  to  him. 

"  Oh !  it  is  nothing  but  another  baby  that  the  good  storks  have  brought 
into  the  house  to-day,"  said  the  miller. 

Now  there  was  a  wise  man  travelling  along  with  the  king,  who  could 
read  the  stars  and  everything  that  they  told  as  easily  as  one  can  read  one's 
A  B  C's  in  a  book  after  one  knows  them,  and  the  king,  for  a  bit  of  a  jest, 
would  have  him^nd  out  what  the  stars  had  to  foretell  of  the  miller's  baby. 
So  the  wise  manwent  out  and  took  a  peep  up  in  the  sky,  and  by  and  by  he 
came  in  again. 

"  Well,"  said  the  king,  "  and  what  did  the  stars  tell  you  ?" 
"  The  stars  tell  me,"  said  the  wise  man,  "  that  you  shall  have  a  daughter, 
and  that  the  miller's  baby,  in  the  room  yonder,  shall  marry  her  when  they 
are  old  enough  to  think  of  such  things." 


4  BEARSKIN. 

"  What !"  said  the  king,  "  and  is  a  miller's  baby  to  marry  the  princess 
that  is  to  come !  We  will  see  about  that."  So  the  next  day  he  took  the 
miller  aside  and  talked  and  bargained,  and  bargained  and  talked,  until  the 
upshot  of  the  matter  was  that  the  miller  was  paid  two  hundred  dollars,  and 
the  king  rode  off  with  the  baby. 

As  soon  as  he  came  home  to  the  castle  he  called  his  chief  forester  to 
him.  "  Here,"  says  he,  "  take  this  baby  and  do  thus  and  so  with  it,  and 
when  you  have  killed  it  bring  its  heart  to  me,  that  I  may  know  that  you 
have  really  done  as  you  have  been  told." 

So  off  marched  the  forester  with  the  baby ;  but  on  his  way  he  stopped 
at  home,  and  there  was  his  good  wife  working  about  the  house. 

"  Well,  Henry,"  said  she,  "  what  do  you  do  with  the  baby  ?" 

"  Oh !"  said  he,  "  I  am  just  taking  it  off  to  the  forest  to  do  thus  and  so 
with  it." 

"  Come,"  said  she,  "  it  would  be  a  pity  to  harm  the  little  innocent,  and 
to  have  its  blood  on  your  hands.  Yonder  hangs  the  rabbit  that  you 
shot  this  morning,  and  its  heart  will  please  the  king  just  as  well  as  the 
other." 

Thus  the  wife  talked,  and  the  end  of  the  business  was  that  she  and  the 
man  smeared  a  basket  all  over  with  pitch  and  set  the  baby  adrift  in  it  on 
the  river,  and  the  king  was  just  as  well  satisfied  with  the  rabbit's  heart  as  he 
would  have  been  with  the  baby's. 

But  the  basket  with  the  baby  in  it  drifted  on  and  on  down  the  river, 
until  it  lodged  at  last  among  the  high  reeds  that  stood  along  the  bank.  By 
and  by  there  came  a  great  she-bear  to  the  water  to  drink,  and  there  she 
found  it. 

Now  the  huntsmen  in  the  forest  had  robbed  the  she-bear  of  her  cubs,  so 
that  her  heart  yearned  over  the  little  baby,  and  she  carried  it  home  with  her 
to  fill  the  place  of  her  own  young  ones.  There  the  baby  throve  until  he 
grew  to  a  great  strong  lad,  and  as  he  had  fed  upon  nothing  but  bear's  milk 
for  all  that  time,  he  was  ten  times  stronger  than  the  strongest  man  in  the 
land. 

One  day,  as  he  was  walking  through  the  forest,  he  came  across  a  wood- 
man chopping  the  trees  into  billets  of  wood,  and  that  was  the  first  time  he 
had  ever  seen  a  body  like  himself.  Back  he  went  to  the  bear  as  fast  as  he 
could  travel,  and  told  her  what  he  had  seen.  "  That,"  said  the  bear,  "  is  the 
most  wicked  and  most  cruel  of  all  the  beasts." 

"  Yes,"  says  the  lad,  "  that  may  be  so,  all  the  same  I  love  beasts  like  that 


botamf tynmv  to  f  Ijmebjs  bt^ibe 


6  BEARSKIN. 

as  I  love  the  food  I  eat,  and  I  long  for  nothing  so  much  as  to  go  out  into 
the  wide  world,  where  I  may  find  others  of  the  same  kind." 

At  this  the  bear  saw  very  well  how  the  geese  flew,  and  that  the  lad 
would  soon  be  flitting. 

"  See,"  said  she,  "  if  you  must  go  out  into  the  wide  world  you  must. 
But  you  will  be  wanting  help  before  long ;  for  the  ways  of  the  world  are  not 
peaceful  and  simple  as  they  are  here  in  the  woods,  and  before  you  have  lived 
there  long  you  will  have  more  needs  than  there  are  flies  in  summer.  See, 
here  is  a  little  crooked  horn,  and  when  your  wants  grow  many,  just  come  to 
the  forest  and  blow  a  blast  on  it,  and  I  will  not  be  too  far  away  to  help  you." 

So  off  went  the  lad  away  from  the  forest,  and  all  the  coat  he  had  upon 
his  back  was  the  skin  of  a  bear  dressed  with  the  hair  on  it,  and  that  was 
why  folk  called  him  "  Bearskin." 

He  trudged  along  the  high-road,  until  he  came  to  the  king's  castle,  and 
it  was  the  same  king  who  thought  he  had  put  Bearskin  safe  out  of  the  way 
years  and  years  ago. 

Now,  the  king's  swineherd  was  in  want  of  a  lad,  and  as  there  was 
^aothing  better  to  do  in  that  town,  Bearskin  took  the  place  and  went  every 
^norning  to  help  drive  the  pigs  into  the  forest,  where  they  might  eat  the 
acorns  and  grow  fat. 

One  day  there  was  a  mighty  stir  throughout  the  town ;  folk  crying,  and 
making  a  great  hubbub.  "  What  is  it  all  about  ?"  says  Bearskin  to  the 
swineherd. 

What !  and  did  he  not  know  what  the  trouble  was  ?  Where  had  he 
been  for  all  of  his  life,  that  he  had  heard  nothing  of  what  was  going  on  in 
the  world  ?  Had  he  never  heard  of  the  great  fiery  dragon  with  three  heads 
that  had  threatened  to  lay  waste  all  of  that  land,  unless  the  pretty  princess 
were  given  up  to  him  ?  This  was  the  very  day  that  the  dragon  was  to  come 
for  her,  and  she  was  to  be  sent  up  on  the  hill  back  of  the  town ;  that  was 
why  all  the  folk  were  crying  and  making  such  a  stir. 

"  So !"  says  Bearskin,  "  and  is  there  never  a  lad  in  the  whole  country 
that  is  man  enough  to  face  the  beast?  Then  I  will  go  myself  if  nobody 
better  is  to  be  found."  And  off  he  went,  though  the  swineherd  laughed 
and  laughed,  and  thought  it  all  a  bit  of  a  jest.  By  and  by  Bearskin  came 
to  the  forest,  and  there  he  blew  a  blast  upon  the  little  crooked  horn  that 
the  bear  had  given  him. 

Presently  came  the  bear  through  the  bushes,  so  fast  that  the  little  twigs 
flew  behind  her.  "  And  what  is  it  that  you  want  ?"  said  she. 


BEARSKIN.  7 

"  I  should  like,"  said  Bearskin,  "  to  have  a  horse,  a  suit  of  gold  and  silver 
armor  that  nothing  can  pierce,  and  a  sword  that  shall  cut  through  iron  and 
steel ;  for  I  would  like  to  go  up  on  the  hill  to  fight  the  dragon  and  free  the 
pretty  princess  at  the  king's  town  over  yonder." 

"  Very  well,"  said  the  bear,  "  look  back  of  the  tree  yonder,  and  you  will 
find  just  what  you  want." 

Yes ;  sure  enough,  there  they  were  back  of  the  tree :  a  grand  white 
horse  that  champed  his  bit  and  pawed  the  ground  till  the  gravel  flew,  and  a 
suit  of  gold  and  silver  armor  such  as  a  king  might  wear.  Bearskin  put  on 
the  armor  and  mounted  the  horse,  and  off  he  rode  to  the  high  hill  back  of 
the  town. 

By  and  by  came  the  princess  and  the  steward  of  the  castle,  for  it  was  he 
that  was  to  bring  her  to  the  dragon.  But  the  steward  stayed  at  the  bottom 
of  the  hill,  for  he  was  afraid,  and  the  princess  had  to  climb  it  alone,  though 
she  could  hardly  see  the  road  before  her  for  the  tears  that  fell  from  her 
eyes.  But  when  she  reached  the  top  of  the  hill  she  found  instead  of  the 
dragon  a  fine  tall  fellow  dressed  all  in  gold  and  silver  armor.  And  it  did 
not  take  Bearskin  long  to  comfort  the  princess,  I  can  tell  you.  "  Cornea 
come,"  says  he,  "  dry  your  eyes  and  cry  no  more ;  all  the  cakes  in  the  oven 
are  not  burned  yet ;  just  go  back  of  the  bushes  yonder,  and  leave  it  with  me 
to  talk  the  matter  over  with  Master  Dragon." 

The  princess  was  glad  enough  to  do  that.  Back  of  the  bushes  she  went, 
and  Bearskin  waited  for  the  dragon  to  come.  He  had  not  long  to  wait 
either ;  for  presently  it  came  flying  through  the  air,  so  that  the  wind  rattled 
under  his  wings. 

Dear,  dear !  if  one  could  but  have  been  there  to  see  that  fight  between 
Bearskin  and  the  dragon,  for  it  was  well  worth  the  seeing,  and  that  you  may 
believe.  The  dragon  spit  out  flames  and  smoke  like  a  house  afire.  But  he 
could  do  no  hurt  to  Bearskin,  for  the  gold  and  silver  armor  sheltered  him  so 
well  that  not  so  much  as  one  single  hair  of  his  head  was  singed.  So  Bear- 
skin just  rattled  away  the  blows  at  the  dragon — slish,  slash,  snip,  clip — until 
all  three  heads  were  off,  and  there  was  an  end  of  it. 

After  that  he  cut  out  the  tongues  from  the  three  heads  of  the  dragon, 
and  tied  them  up  in  his  pocket-handkerchief. 

Then  the  princess  came  out  from  behind  the  bushes  where  she  had  lain 
hidden,  and  begged  Bearskin  to  go  back  with  her  to  the  king's  castle,  for  the 
king  had  said  that  if  any  one  killed  the  dragon  he  should  have  her  for  his 
wife.  But  no ;  Bearskin  would  not  go  to  the  castle  just  now,  for  the  time 


g  BEARSKIN. 

was  not  yet  ripe  ;  but,  if  the  princess  would  give  them  to  him,  he  would  like 
to  have  the  ring  from  her  ringer,  the  kerchief  from  her  bosom,  and  the  neck- 
lace of  golden  beads  from  her  neck. 

The  princess  gave  him  what  he  asked  for,  and  a  sweet  kiss  into  the 
bargain,  and  then  Bearskin  mounted  upon  his  grand  white  horse  and  rode 
away  to  the  forest.  "  Here  are  your  horse  and  armor,"  said  he  to  the 
bear,  "and  they  have  done  good  service  to-day,  I  can  tell  you."  Then 
he  tramped  back  again  to  the  king's  castle  with  the  old  bear's  skin  over 
his  shoulders. 

"  Well,"  says  the  swineherd,  "  and  did  you  kill  the  dragon  ?" 

"  Oh,  yes,"  says  Bearskin,  "  I  did  that,  but  it  was  no  such  great  thing  to 
do  after  all." 

At  that  the  swineherd  laughed  and  laughed,  for  he  did  not  believe  a 
word  of  it. 

And  now  listen  to  what  happened  to  the  princess  after  Bearskin  had 
left  her.  The  steward  came  sneaking  up  to  see  how  matters  had  turned 
out,  and  there  he  found  her  safe  and  sound,  and  the  dragon  dead. 
$  Whoever  did  this  left  his  luck  behind  him,"  said  he,  and  he  drew  his 
sword  and  told  the  princess  that  he  would  kill  ner  if  she  did  not  swear 
to  say  nothing  of  what  had  happened.  Then  he  gathered  up  the 
dragon's  three  heads,  and  he  and  the  princess  went  back  to  the  castle 
again. 

"  There !"  said  he,  when  they  had  come  before  the  king,  and  he  flung 
down  the  three  heads  upon  the  floor,  "  I  have  killed  the  dragon  and  I  have 
brought  back  the  princess,  and  now  if  anything  is  to  be  had  for  the  labor  I 
would  like  to  have  it."  As  for  the  princess,  she  wept  and  wept,  but  she 
could  say  nothing,  and  so  it  was  fixed  that  she  was  to  marry  the  steward, 
for  that  was  what  the  king  had  promised. 

At  last  came  the  wedding-day,  and  the  smoke  went  up  from  the  chim- 
neys in  clouds,  for  there  was  to  be  a  grand  wedding-feast,  and  there  was  no 
end  of  good  things  cooking  for  those  who  were  to  come. 

"  See  now,"  says  Bearskin  to  the  swineherd  where  they  were  feeding 
their  pigs  together,  out  in  the  woods,  "  as  I  killed  the  dragon  over  yonder, 
I  ought  at  least  to  have  some  of  the  good  things  from  the  king's  kitchen  ; 
you  shall  go  and  ask  for  some  of  the  fine  white  bread  and  meat,  such  as  the 
king  and  princess  are  to  eat  to-day." 

Dear,  dear,  but  you  should  have  seen  how  the  swineherd  stared  at  this 
and  how  he  laughed,  for  he  thought  the  other  must  have  gone  out  of  his 


Dragon  but 


wits ;  but  as  for  going  to  the  castle — no,  he  would  not  go  a  step,  and  that 
was  the  long  and  the  short  of  it. 

"  So !  well,  we  will  see  about  that,"  says  Bearskin,  and  he  stepped  to  a 
thicket  and  cut  a  good  stout  stick,  and  without  another  word  caught  the 
swineherd  by  the  collar,  and  began  dusting  his  jacket  for  him  until  it 
smoked  again. 

"  Stop,  stop !"  bawled  the  swineherd. 

"  Very  well,"  says  Bearskin ;  "  and  now  will  you  go  over  to  the  castle  for 
me,  and  ask  for  some  of  the  same  bread  and  meat  that  the  king  and 
princess  are  to  have  for  their  dinner?" 


BEARSKIN.  j, 

Yes,  yes ;  the  swineherd  would  do  anything  that  Bearskin  wanted  him. 

"  So !  good,"  says  Bearskin ;  "  then  just  take  this  ring  and  see  that  the 
princess  gets  it ;  and  say  that  the  lad  who  sent  it  would  like  to  have  some 
of  the  bread  and  meat  that  she  is  to  have  for  her  dinner." 

So  the  swineherd  took  the  ring,  and  off  he  started  to  do  as  he  had  been 
told.  Rap !  tap !  tap !  he  knocked  at  the  door.  Well,  and  what  did  he 
want? 

Oh !  there  was  a  lad  over  in  the  woods  yonder  who  had  sent  him  to 
ask  for  some  of  the  same  bread  and  meat  that  the  king  and  princess  were 
to  have  for  their  dinner,  and  he  had  brought  this  ring  to  the  princess  as  a 
token. 

But  how  the  princess  opened  her  eyes  when  she  saw  the  ring  which  she 
had  given  to  Bearskin  up  on  the  hill !  For  she  saw,  as  plain  as  the  nose  on 
her  face,  that  he  who  had  saved  her  from  the  dragon  was  not  so  far  away  as 
she  had  thought.  Down  she  went  into  the  kitchen  herself  to  see  that  the 
very  best  bread  and  meat  were  sent,  and  the  swineherd  marched  off  with  a 
great  basket  full. 

"  Yes,"  says  Bearskin,  "  that  is  very  well  so  far,  but  I  am  for  having 
some  of  the  red  and  white  wine  that  they  are  to  drink.  Just  take  this 
kerchief  over  to  the  castle  yonder,  and  let  the  princess  know  that  the  lad 
to  whom  she  gave  it  upon  the  hill  back  of  the  town  would  like  to  have  a 
taste  of  the  wine  that  she  and  the  king  are  to  have  at  the  feast  to-day." 

Well,  the  swineherd  was  for  saying  "  no  "  to  this  as  he  had  to  the  other, 
but  Bearskin  just  reached  his  hand  over  toward  the  stout  stick  that  he  had 
used  before,  and  the  other  started  off  as  though  the  ground  was  hot  under 
his  feet.  And  what  was  the  swineherd  wanting  this  time — that  was  what 
they  said  over  at  the  castle. 

"  The  lad  with  the  pigs  in  the  woods  yonder,"  says  the  swineherd, 
"  must  have  gone  crazy,  for  he  has  sent  this  kerchief  to  the  princess  and 
says  that  he  should  like  to  have  a  bottle  or  two  of  the  wine  that  she  and 
the  king  are  to  drink  to-day." 

When  the  princess  saw  her  kerchief  again  her  heart  leaped  for  joy.  She 
made  no  two  words  about  the  wine,  but  went  down  into  the  cellar  and 
brought  it  up  with  her  own  hands,  and  the  swineherd  marched  off  with  it 
tucked  under  his  coat. 

"  Yes,  that  was  all  very  well,"  said  Bearskin,  "  I  am  satisfied  so  far  as  the 
wine  is  concerned,  but  now  I  would  like  to  have  some  of  the  sweetmeats 
that  they  are  to  eat  at  the  castle  to-day.  See,  here  is  a  necklace  of  golden 


inetyerbfyatot  a  graft  feajst. 


beads ;  just  take  it  to  the  princess  and  ask  for  some  of  those  sweetmeats, 
for  I  will  have  them,"  and  this  time  he  had  only  to  look  towards  the  stick, 
and  the  other  started  off  as  fast  as  he  could  travel. 

The  swineherd  had  no  more  trouble  with  this  asking  than  with  the 
others,  for  the  princess  went  down-stairs  and  brought  the  sweetmeats  from 
the  pantry  with  her  own  hands,  and  the  swineherd  carried  them  to  Bearskin 
where  he  sat  out  in  the  woods  with  the  pigs. 

Then  Bearskin  spread  out  the  good  things,  and  he  and  the  swineherd  sat 
down  to  the  feast  together,  and  a  fine  one  it  was,  I  can  tell  you. 


BEARSKIN.  13 

"  And  now,"  says  Bearskin,  when  they  had  eaten  all  that  they  could,  "  it 
is  time  for  me  to  leave  you,  for  I  must  go  and  marry  the  princess."  So  off 
he  started,  and  the  swineherd  did  nothing  but  stand  and  gape  after  him, 
with  his  mouth  open,  as  though  he  were  set  to  catch  flies.  But  Bearskin 
went  straight  to  the  woods,  and  there  he  blew  upon  his  horn,  and  the  bear 
was  with  him  as  quickly  this  time  as  the  last. 

"  Well,  what  do  you  want  now,"  said  she. 

"  This  time,"  said  Bearskin,  "  I  want  a  fine  suit  of  clothes  made  of  gold- 
and-silver  cloth,  and  a  horse  to  ride  on  up  to  the  king's  house,  for  I  am 
going  to  marry  the  princess." 

Very  well ;  there  was  what  he  wanted  back  of  the  tree  yonder ;  and  it 
was  a  suit  of  clothes  fit  for  a  great  king  to  wear,  and  a  splendid  dapple-gray 
horse  with  a  golden  saddle  and  bridle  studded  all  over  with  precious  stones. 
So  Bearskin  put  on  the  clothes  and  rode  away,  and  a  fine  sight  he  was  to 
see,  I  can  tell  you. 

And  how  the  folks  stared  when  he  rode  up  to  the  king's  castle.  Out 
came  the  king  along  with  the  rest,  for  he  thought  that  Bearskin  was  some 
great  lord.  But  the  princess  knew  him  the  moment  she  set  eyes  upon  him, 
for  she  was  not  likely  to  forget  him  so  soon  as  all  that. 

The  king  brought  Bearskin  into  where  they  were  feasting,  and  had  a 
place  set  for  him  alongside  of  himself. 

The  steward  was  there  along  with  the  rest.  "  See,"  said  Bearskin  to 
him,  "  I  have  a  question  to  put.  One  killed  a  dragon  and  saved  a  princess, 
but  another  came  and  swore  falsely  that  he  did  it.  Now,  what  should  be 
done  to  such  a  one?" 

"  Why  this,"  said  the  steward,  speaking  up  as  bold  as  brass,  for  he 
thought  to  face  the  matter  down,  "  he  should  be  put  in  a  cask  stuck  all 
round  with  nails,  and  dragged  behind  three  wild  horses." 

"  Very  well,"  said  Bearskin,  "  you  have  spoken  for  yourself.  For  I  killed 
the  dragon  up  on  the  hill  behind  the  town,  and  you  stole  the  glory  of  the 
doing." 

"  That  is  not  so,"  said  the  steward,  "  for  it  was  I  who  brought  home  the 
three  heads  of  the  dragon  in  my  own  hand,  and  how  can  that  be  with  the 
rest  ?" 

Then  Bearskin  stepped  to  the  wall,  where  hung  the  three  heads  of  the 
dragon.  He  opened  the  mouth  of  each.  "And  where  are  the  tongues?" 
said  he. 

At  this  the  steward  grew  as  pale  as  death,  nevertheless  he  still  spoke  up 


I4  BEARSKIN. 

as  boldly  as  ever :  "  Dragons  have  no  tongues,"  said  he.  But  Bearskin  only 
laughed ;  he  untied  his  handkerchief  before  them  all,  and  there  were  the 
three  tongues.  He  put  one  in  each  mouth,  and  they  fitted  exactly,  and 
after  that  no  one  could  doubt  that  he  was  the  hero  who  had  really  killed 
the  dragon.  So  when  the  wedding  came  it  was  Bearskin,  and  not  the 
steward,  who  married  the  princess ;  what  was  done  to  him  you  may  guess 
for  yourselves. 

And  so  they  had  a  grand  wedding,  but  in  the  very  midst  of  the  feast 
one  came  running  in  and  said  there  was  a  great  brown  bear  without,  who 
would  come  in,  w^lly-nilly.  Yes,  and  you  have  guessed  it  right,  it  was  the 
great  she-bear,  and  if  nobody  else  was  made  much  of  at  that  wedding  you 
can  depend  upon  it  that  she  was. 

As  for  the  king,  he  was  satisfied  that  the  princess  had  married  a  great 
hero.  So  she  had,  only  he  was  the  miller's  son  after  all,  though  the  king 
knew  no  more  of  that  than  my  grandfather's  little  dog,  and  no  more  did 
anybody  but  the  wise  man  for  the  matter  of  that,  and  he  said  nothing  of  it, 
for  wise  folk  don't  tell  all  they  know. 


KJT 


Two  O'clock- 


|he  Black  Cock  crowed; 
The  Moon  was  bright; 
The  Red  Cock  answered 
Through  the  night. 


urne  in  e, 
And  tossed  her  arms 
Above  her  head.      3 

The  old  Hound  stretched. 

Andjbreathing  deep  , 
He  settled  down 

Again  to  sleep*         © 


The  Water  of  Life. 


II. 


NCE  upon  a  time  there  was  an  old  king  who  had  a 
faithful  servant.  There  was  nobody  in  the  whole 
world  like  him,  and  this  was  why:  around  his  wrist 
he  wore  an  armlet  that  fitted  as  close  as  the  skin. 
There  were  words  on  the  golden  band ;  on  one  side 
they  said : 

"WHO   THINKS   TO   WEAR   ME   ON   HIS- ARM 

MUST   LACK   BOTH    GUILE   AND   THOUGHT   OF   HARM." 

And  on  the  other  side  they  said : 

"I  AM  FOR  ONLY  ONE  AND  HE 

SHALL  BE  AS  STRONG  AS  TEN  CAN  BE." 

At  last  the  old  king  felt  that  his  end  was  near,  and  he  called  the  faith- 
ful servant  to  him  and  besought  him  to  serve  and  aid  the  young  king  who 
was  to  come  as  he  had  served  and  aided  the  old  king  who  was  to  go.  The 
faithful  servant  promised  that  which  was  asked,  and  then  the  old  king 
closed  his  eyes  and  folded  his  hands  and  went  the  way  that  those  had 
travelled  who  had  gone  before  him. 

Well,  one  day  a  stranger  came  to  that  town  from  over  the  hills  and  far 
away.  With  him  he  brought  a  painted  picture,  but  it  was  all  covered  with 
a  curtain  so  that  nobody  could  see  what  it  was. 

He  drew  aside  the  curtain  and  showed  the  picture  to  the  young  king, 
and  it  was  a  likeness  of  the  most  beautiful  princess  in  the  whole  world ;  for 
2 


,8  THE  WATER  OF   LIFE. 

her  eyes  were  as  black  as  a  crow's  wing,  her  cheeks  were  as  red  as  apples, 
and  her  skin  as  white  as  snow.  Moreover,  the  picture  was  so  natural  that 
it  seemed  as  though  it  had  nothing  to  do  but  to  open  its  lips  and  speak. 

The  young  king  just  sat  and  looked  and  looked.  "  Oh  me !"  said  he,  "  I 
will  never  rest  content  until  I  have  such  a  one  as  that  for  my  own." 

"  Then  listen !"  said  the  stranger,  "  this  is  a  likeness  of  the  princess  that 
lives  over  beyond  the  three  rivers.  A  while  ago  she  had  a  wise  bird  on 
which  she  doted,  for  it  knew  everything  that  happened  in  the  world,  so 
that  it  could  tell  the  princess  whatever  she  wanted  to  know.  But  now 
the  bird  is  dead,  and  the  princess  does  nothing  but  grieve  for  it  day  and 
night.  She  keeps  the  dead  bird  in  a  glass  casket,  and  has  promised  to 
marry  whoever  will  bring  a  cup  of  water  from  the  Fountain  of  Life,  so 
that  the  bird  may  be  brought  back  to  life  again."  That  was  the  story  the 
stranger  told,  and  then  he  jogged  on  the  way  he  was  going,  and  I,  for  one, 
do  not  know  whither  it  led. 

But  the  young  king  had  no  peace  or  comfort  in  life  for  thinking  of  the 
princess  who  lived  over  beyond  the  three  rivers.  At  last  he  called  the 
faithful  servant  to  him.  "  And  can  you  not,"  said  he,  "  get  me  a  cup  of 
the  Water  of  Life  ?" 

"I  know  not,  but  I  will  try,"  said  the  faithful  servant,  for  he  bore  in 
mind  what  he  had  promised  to  the  old  king. 

So  out  he  went  into  the  wide  world,  to  seek  for  what  the  young  king 
wanted,  though  the  way  there  is  both  rough  and  thorny.  On  he  went  and 
on,  until  his  shoes  were  dusty,  and  his  feet  were  sore,  and  after  a  while  he 
came  to  the  end  of  the  earth,  and  there  was  nothing  more  over  the  hill. 
There  he  found  a  little  tumbled-down  hut,  and  within  the  hut  sat  an  old, 
old  woman  with  a  distaff,  spinning  a  lump  of  flax. 

"  Good-morning,  mother,"  said  the  faithful  servant. 

"  Good-morning,  son,"  says  the  old  woman,  "  and  where  are  you  travel- 
ling that  you  have  come  so  far?" 

"  Oh !"  says  the  faithful  servant,  "  I  am  hunting  for  the  Water  of  Life, 
and  have  come  as  far  as  this  without  finding  a  drop  of  it." 

"  Hoity,  toity,"  says  the  old  woman,  "  if  that  is  what  you  are  after,  you 
have  a  long  way  to  go  yet.  The  fountain  is  in  the  country  that  lies  east  of 
the  Sun  and  west  of  the  Moon,  and  it  is  few  that  have  gone  there  and  come 
back  again,  I  can  tell  you.  Besides  that  there  is  a  great  dragon  that  keeps 
watch  over  the  water,  and  you  will  have  to  get  the  better  of  him  before  you 
can  touch  a  drop  of  it.  All  the  same,  if  you  have  made  up  your  mind  to 


tjc  young  lEttog  loofcsupon  $  beautiful 
icl)  ttje#ranger 


20  THE   WATER   OF   LIFE. 

go  you  may  stay  here  until  my  sons  come  home,  and  perhaps  they  can  put 
you  in  the  way  of  getting  there,  for  I  am  the  Mother  of  the  Four  Winds  of 
Heaven,  and  it  is  few  places  that  they  have  not  seen." 

So  the  faithful  servant  came  in  and  sat  down  by  the  fire  to  wait  till  the 
Winds  came  home. 

The  first  that  came  was  the  East  Wind ;  but  he  knew  nothing  of  the 
Water  of  Life  and  the  land  that  lay  east  of  the  Sun  and  west  of  the  Moon ; 
he  had  heard  folks  talk  of  them  both  now  and  then,  but  he  had  never  seen 
them  with  his  own  eyes. 

The  next  that  came  was  the  South  Wind,  but  he  knew  no  more  of  it 
than  his  brother,  and  neither  did  the  West  Wind  for  the  matter  of  that. 

Last  of  all  came  the  North  Wind,  and  dear,  dear,  what  a  hubbub  he 
made  outside  of  the  door,  stamping  the  dust  off  of  his  feet  before  he  came 
into  the  house. 

"  And  do  you  know  where  the  Fountain  of  Life  is,  and  the  country  that 
lies  east  of  the  Sun  and  west  of  the  Moon  ?"  said  the  old  woman. 

Oh,  yes,  the  North  Wind  knew  where  it  was.  He  had  been  there  once 
upon  a  time,  but  it  was  a  long,  long  distance  away. 

"  So ;  good !  then  perhaps  you  will  give  this  lad  a  lift  over  there  to- 
morrow," said  the  old  woman. 

At  this  the  North  Wind  grumbled  and  shook  his  head ;  but  at  last  he 
said  "yes,"  for  he  is  a  good-hearted  fellow  at  bottom,  is  the  North  Wind, 
though  his  ways  are  a  trifle  rough  perhaps. 

So  the  next  morning  he  took  the  faithful  servant  on  his  back,  and  away 
he  flew  till  the  man's  hair  whistled  behind  him.  On  they  went  and  on  they 
went  and  on  they  went,  until  at  last  they  came  to  the  country  that  lay  east 
of  the  Sun  and  west  of  the  Moon ;  and  they  were  none  too  soon  getting 
there  either,  I  can  tell  you,  for  when  the  North  Wind  tumbled  the  faithful 
servant  off  his  back  he  was  so  weak  that  he  could  not  have  lifted  a  feather. 

"  Thank  you,"  said  the  faithful  servant,  and  then  he  was  for  starting 
away  to  find  what  he  came  for. 

"  Stop  a  bit,"  says  the  North  Wind,  "  you  will  be  wanting  to  come  away 
again  after  a  while.  I  cannot  wait  here,  for  I  have  other  business  to  look 
after.  But  here  is  a  feather ;  when  you  want  me,  cast  it  into  the  air,  and  I 
will  not  be  long  in  coming." 

Then  away  he  bustled,  for  he  had  caught  his  breath  again,  and  time  was 
none  too  long  for  him. 

The  faithful  servant  walked  along  a  great  distance  until,  by  and  by,  he 


#4  U9fob  flie*  toirfj  pf ai 


came  to  a  field  covered  all  over  with  sharp  rocks  and  white  bones,  for  he 
was  not  the  first  by  many  who  had  been  that  way  for  a  cup  of  the  Water 
of  Life. 

There  lay  the  great  fiery  dragon  in  the  sun,  sound  asleep,  and  so  the 
faithful  servant  had  time  to  look  about  him.  Not  far  away  was  a  great 
deep  trench  like  a  drain  in  a  swampy  field  ;  that  was  a  path  that  the  dragon 
had  made  by  going  to  the  river  for  a  drink  of  water  every  day.  The 
faithful  servant  dug  a  hole  in  the  bottom  of  this  trench,  and  there  he  hid 


22  THE   WATER  OF   LIFE. 

himself  as  snugly  as  a  cricket  in  the  crack  in  the  kitchen  floor.  By  and  by 
the  dragon  awoke  and  found  that  he  was  thirsty,  and  then  started  down  to 
the  river  to  get  a  drink.  The  faithful  servant  lay  as  still  as  a  mouse  until 
the  dragon  was  just  above  where  he  was  hidden ;  then  he  thrust  his  sword 
through  its  heart,  and  there  it  lay,  after  a  turn  or  two,  as  dead  as  a  stone. 

After  that  he  had  only  to  fill  the  cup  at  the  fountain,  for  there  was 
nobody  to  say  nay  to  him.  Then  he  cast  the  feather  into  the  air,  and  there 
was  the  North  Wind,  as  fresh  and  as  sound  as  ever.  The  North  Wind 
took  him  upon  its  back,  and  away  it  flew  until  it  came  home  again. 

The  faithful  servant  thanked  them  all  around  —  the  Four  Winds  and 
the  old  woman — and  as  they  would  take  nothing  else,  he  gave  them  a  few 
drops  of  the  Water  of  Life,  and  that  is  the  reason  that  the  Four  Winds 
and  their  mother  are  as  fresh  and  young  now  as  they  were  when  the  world 
began. 

Then  the  faithful  servant  set  off  home  again,  right  foot  foremost,  and 
he  was  not  as  long  in  getting  there  as  in  coming. 

As  soon  as  the  king  saw  the  cup  of  the  Water  of  Life  he  had  the  horses 
saddled,  and  off  he  and  the  faithful  servant  rode  to  find  the  princess  who 
lived  over  beyond  the  three  rivers.  By  and  by  they  came  to  the  town,  and 
there  was  the  princess  mourning  and  grieving  over  her  bird  just  as  she  had 
done  from  the  first.  But  when  she  heard  that  the  king  had  brought  the 
Water  of  Life  she  welcomed  him  as  though  he  were  a  flower  in  March. 

They  sprinkled  a  few  drops  upon  the  dead  bird,  and  up  it  sprang  as 
lively  and  as  well  as  ever. 

But  now,  before  the  princess  would  marry  the  king  she  must  have  a 
talk  with  the  bird,  and  there  came  the  hitch,  for  the  Wise  Bird  knew  as  well 
as  you  and  I  that  it  was  not  the  king  who  had  brought  the  Water  of  Life. 
"  Go  and  tell  him,"  said  the  Wise  Bird,  "  that  you  are  ready  to  -marry  him 
as  soon  as  he  saddles  and  bridles  the  Wild  Black  Horse  in  the  forest  over 
yonder,  for  if  he  is  the  hero  who  found  the  Water  of  Life  he  can  do  that  and 
more  easily  enough." 

The  princess  did  as  the  bird  told  her,  and  so  the  king  missed  getting 
what  he  wanted  after  all.  But  off  he  went  to  the  faithful  servant.  "  And 
can  you  not  saddle  and  bridle  the  Wild  Black  Horse  for  me?"  said  he. 

"  I  do  not  know,"  said  the  faithful  servant,  "  but  I  will  try." 

So  off  he  went  to  the  forest  to  hunt  up  the  Wild  Black  Horse,  the 
saddle  over  his  shoulder  and  the  bridle  over  his  arm.  By  and  by  came  the 
Wild  Black  Horse  galloping  through  the  woods  like  a  thunder  gust  in 


24  THE  WATER  OF  LIFE. 

summer,  so  that  the  ground  shook  under  his  feet.  But  the  faithful  servant 
was  ready  for  him ;  he  caught  him  by  the  mane  and  forelock,  and  the  Wild 
Black  Horse  had  never  had  such  a  one  to  catch  hold  of  him  before. 

But  how  they  did  stamp  and  wrestle :  Up  and  down  and  here  and 
there,  until  the  fire  flew  from  the  stones  under  their  feet.  But  the  Wild 
Blac\  Horse  could  not  stand  against  the  strength  of  ten  men,  such  as  the 
faithful  servant  had,  so  by  and  by  he  fell  on  his  knees,  and  the  faithful 
servant  clapped  the  saddle  on  his  back  and  slipped  the  bridle  over  his  ears. 

"  Listen  now,"  says  he ;  "  to-morrow  my  master,  the  king,  will  ride  you 
up  to  the  princess's  house,  and  if  you  do  not  do  just  as  I  tell  you,  it  will 
be  the  worse  for  you  ;  when  the  king  mounts  upon  your  back  you  must 
stagger  and  groan,  as  though  you  carried  a  mountain." 

The  horse  promised  to  do  as  the  other  bade,  and  then  the  faithful 
servant  jumped  on  his  back  and  away  to  the  king,  who  had  been  waiting 
at  home  for  all  this  time. 

The  next  day  the  king  rode  up  to  the  princess's  castle,  and  the  Wild 
Black  Horse  did  just  as  the  faithful  servant  told  him  to  do ;  he  staggered 
and  groaned,  so  that  everybody  cried  out,  "  Look  at  the  great  hero  riding 
upon  the  Wild  Black  Horse  !" 

And  when  the  princess  saw  him  she  also  thought  that  he  was  a  great 
hero.  But  the  Wise  Bird  was  of  a  different  mind  from  her,  for  when  the 
princess  came  to  talk  to  him  about  marrying  the  king  he  shook  his  head. 
"  No,  no,"  said  he,  "  there  is  something  wrong  here,  and  the  king  has  baked 
his  cake  in  somebody  else's  oven.  He  never  saddled  and  bridled  the  Wild 
Black  Horse  by  himself.  Listen,  you  must  say  to  him  that  you  will  marry 
nobody  but  the  man  who  wears  such  and  such  a  golden  armlet  with  this 
and  that  written  on  it." 

So  the  princess  told  the  king  what  the  Wise  Bird  had  bidden  her  to 
say,  and  the  king  went  straightway  to  the  faithful  servant. 

"  You  must  let  me  have  your  armlet,"  said  he. 

"  Alas,  master,"  said  the  faithful  servant,  "  that  is  a  woful  thing  for  me, 
for  the  one  and  only  way  to  take  the  armlet  off  of  my  wrist  is  to  cut  my 
hand  from  off  my  body." 

"So!"  says  the  king,  "that  is  a  great  pity,  but  the  princess  will  not 
have  me  without  the  armlet." 

"  Then  you  shall  have  it,"  says  the  faithful  servant ;  but  the  king  had 
to  cut  the  hand  off,  for  the  faithful  servant  could  not  do  it  himself. 

But,  bless  your  heart !  the  armlet  was  ever  so  much  too  large  for  the 


Vfatf^uIS 

pouna  Iking  pgolben 


C 


26  THE   WATER  OF   LIFE. 

king  to  wear !  Nevertheless  he  tied  it  to  his  wrist  with  a  bit  of  ribbon,  and 
off  he  marched  to  the  princess's  castle. 

"  Here  is  the  armlet  of  gold,"  said  he,  "  and  now  will  you  marry  me !" 

But  the  Wise  Bird  sat  on  the  princess's  chair.  "  Hut !  tut !"  says  he,  "  it 
does  not  fit  the  man." 

Yes,  that  was  so ;  everybody  who  was  there  could  see  it  easily  enough ; 
and  as  for  marrying  him,  the  princess  would  marry  nobody  but  the  man 
who  could  wear  the  armlet. 

What  a  hubbub  there  was  then !  Every  one  who  was  there  was  sure 
that  the  armlet  would  fit  him  if  it  fitted  nobody  else.  But  no ;  it  was  far 
too  large  for  the  best  of  them.  The  faithful  servant  was  very  sad,  and 
stood  back  of  the  rest,  over  by  the  wall,  with  his  arm  tied  up  in  a  napkin. 
"You  shall  try  it  too,"  says  the  princess;  but  the  faithful  servant  only 
shook  his  head,  for  he  could  not  try  it  on  as  the  rest  had  done,  because  he 
had  no  hand.  But  the  Wise  Bird  was  there  and  knew  what  he  was  about ; 
"  See  now,"  says  he,  "  maybe  the  Water  of  Life  will  cure  one  thing  as  well 
as  another." 

Yes,  that  was  true,  and  one  was  sent  to  fetch  the  cup.  They  sprinkled 
it  on  the  faithful  servant's  arm,  and  it  was  not  twice  they  had  to  do  it,  for 
there  was  another  hand  as  good  and  better  than  the  old. 

Then  they  gave  him  the  armlet ;  he  slipped  it  over  his  hand,  and  it  fitted 
him  like  his  own  skin. 

"  This  is  the  man  for  me,"  says  the  princess,  "  and  I  will  have  none 
other ;"  for  she  could  see  with  half  an  eye  that  fie  was  the  hero  who  had 
been  doing  all  the  wonderful  things  that  had  happened,  because  he  said 
nothing  about  himself. 

As  for  the  king — why,  all  that  was  left  for  him  to  do  was  to  pack  off 
home  again ;  and  I,  for  one,  am  glad  of  it. 

And  this  is  true ;  the  best  packages  are  not  always  wrapped  up  in  blue 
paper  and  tied  with  a  gay  string,  and  there  are  better  men  in  the  world  than 
kings  and  princes,  fine  as  they  seem  to  be. 


he  Rooms  were  coldfiieHeartb  wasgrey: 
Asleep  in  the  ashes  the  Kolold  lay. 
iheBoard-Floor  creaked  ,        A 
The  Grey-Mouse  squeaked, 
Andthe^bW^dreamedits  ear.he  tweaked. 

Hewrinkledup 


And  smiled  in  his  sleep, 
And  curled  his  To^. 


HowOne  turned  his 
'Trouble  to  some  accounts 


III. 


HERE  was  a  soldier  marching  along  the  road  — 
left,  right !  left,  right !  He  had  been  to  the  wars 
for  five  years,  so  that  he  was  very  brave,  and 
now  he  was  coming  home  again.  In  his  knap- 
sack were  two  farthings,  and  that  was  everything 
that  he  had  in  the  world.  All  the  same,  he  had  a 
rich  brother  at  home,  and  that  was  something  to 
say. 

So  on  he  tramped  until  he  had  come  to  his  rich  brother's  house. 
"  Good-day,  brother,"  said  he, "  and  how  does  the  old  world  treat  you." 
But  the  rich  brother  screwed  up  his  face  and  rubbed  his  nose,  for  he 
was  none  too  glad  to  see  the  other.     "  What !"  said  he,  "  and  is  the  Pewter 
Penny  back  again  ?"     That  was  the  way  that  he  welcomed  the  other  to  his 
house. 

"Tut!  tut!"  says  the  brave  soldier/'  and  is  not  this  a  pretty  way  to 
welcome  a  brother  home  to  be  sure !  All  that  I  want  is  just  a  crust  of  bread 
and  a  chance  to  rest  the  soles  of  my  feet  back  of  the  stove  a  little  while. 

Oh,  well !  if  that  was  all  that  he  wanted,  he  might  have  his  supper  and  a 
bed  for  the  night,  but  he  must  not  ask  for  any  more,  and  he  must  jog  on  in 
the  morning  and  never  come  that  way  again. 

Well,  as  no  more  broth  was  to  be  had  from  that  dish,  the  soldier  said 
that  he  would  be  satisfied  with  what  he  could  get;  so  into  the  house  he 
came. 

Over  by  the  fire  was  a  bench,  and  on  the  bench  was  a  basket,  and  in  the 


3o          HOW  ONE  TURNED  HIS  TROUBLE  TO  SOME  ACCOUNT. 

basket  were  seven  young  ducks  that  waited  where  it  was  warm  until  the  rest 
were  hatched.  The  soldier  saw  nothing  of  these ;  down  he  sat,  and  the  lit- 
tle young  ducks  said  "  peep !"  and  died  all  at  once.  Up  jumped  the  soldier 
and  over  went  the  beer  mug  that  sat  by  the  fire  so  that  the  beer  ran  all 
around  and  put  out  the  blaze. 

At  this  the  rich  brother  fell  into  a  mighty  rage.  "  See  !"  said  he,  "  you 
never  go  anywhere  but  you  bring  Trouble  with  you.  Out  of  the  house  be- 
fore I  make  this  broom  rattle  about  your  ears !" 

And  so  the  brave  soldier  had  to  go  out  under  the  blessed  sky  again. 
"  Well !  well !"  said  he, "  the  cream  is  all  sour  over  yonder  for  sure  and  cer- 
taia!  All  the  same  it  will  better  nothing  to  be  in  the  dumps,  so  we'll  just 
sing  a  bit  of  a  song  to  keep  our  spirits  up."  So  the  soldier  began  to  sing, 
and  by  and  by  he  heard  that  somebody  was  singing  along  with  him. 

"  Halloa,  comrade !"  said  he, "  who  is  there?" 

"  Oh  !"  said  a  voice  beside  him,  "  it  is  only  Trouble." 

"And  what  are  you  doing  there, Trouble ?"  said  the  soldier. 

Oh !  Trouble  was  only  jogging  along  with  him.  They  had  been  friends 
and  comrades  for  this  many  a  bright  day,  for  when  had  the  soldier  ever 
gone  anywhere  that  Trouble  had  not  gone  along  with  him  ? 

The  brave  soldier  scratched  his  head.  "  Yes,  yes,"  says  he ;  "  that  is  all 
very  fine ;  but  there  must  be  an  end  of  the  business.  See !  yonder  is  one 
road  and  here  is  another ;  you  may  go  that  road  and  I  will  go  this,  for  I 
want  no  Trouble  for  a  comrade." 

"  Oh,  no  !"  says  Trouble,  "  I  will  never  leave  you  now ;  you  and  I  have 
been  comrades  too  long  for  that !" 

Very  well !  the  soldier  would  see  about  that.  They  should  go  to  the 
king,  for  things  had  come  to  a  pretty  pass  if  one  could  not  choose  one's 
own  comrades  in  this  broad  world,  but  must,  willy-nilly,  have  Trouble  al- 
ways jogging  at  one's  heels. 

So  off  they  went — the  soldier  and  Trouble — and  by  and  by  they  came 
to  the  great  town  and  there  they  found  the  king. 

"  Well,  and  what  is  the  trouble  now  ?"  said  the  king. 

Trouble  indeed  !  Why,  it  was  thus  and  so  ;  here  was  that  same  Trouble 
tramping  around  at  the  soldier's  heels  and  would  go  wherever  he  went. 
Now,  the  soldier  would  like  to  know  whether  one  had  no  right  to  choose 
one's  own  comrades — that  was  the  business  that  had  brought  him  to  the 
king! 

Well,  the  king  thought  and  thought  and  puzzled  and  puzzled,  but  that 


ZSraue  ^olbier  ^rmg 

t)ij3  CroubU  to  §  totonalongtoit^ljim. 


32  HOW  ONE  TURNED   HIS  TROUBLE  TO  SOME  ACCOUNT. 

nut  was  too  hard  for  him  to  crack,  so  he  sent  off  for  all  of  his  wise  council- 
lors to  see  what  they  had  to  say  about  the  matter. 

So,  when  they  had  all  come  together  the  king  told  them  that  things 
were  thus  and  so,  and  thus  and  so,  and  now  he  would  like  to  know  what 
they  all  thought  about  it. 

Then  the  wise  councillors  began  to  talk  and  talk,  and  one  said  one  thing 
and  another  another.  After  a  while  they  fell  to  arguing  with  loud  voices, 
and  then  they  grew  angry  and  began  talking  all  at  once,  and  last  of  all  they 
came  to  fisticuffs.  Then  you  should  have  heard  what  a  racket  they  made ! 
for  they  buffeted  and  cuffed  one  another  until  the  hair  flew  as  thick  as  dust 
in  the  mill. 

That  was  the  kind  of  prank  that  Trouble  played  them. 

Now  the  king  had  a  daughter,  and  the  princess  was  as  pretty  a  lass  as 
one  could  find  were  he  to  hunt  for  seven  summer  days.  When  she  heard 
all  the  hubbub  she  came  to  see  what  it  was  about,  for  that  is  the  way  with 
all  of  us,  and  of  women  folk  more  than  any.  And  the  king  told  her  all 
about  it ;  how  the  soldier  had  come  to  that  town  to  get  rid  of  Trouble, 
and  how  he  had  done  nothing  but  bring  it  with  him. 

"  Perhaps,"  said  she, "  Trouble  might  leave  him  if  he  were  married." 

At  this  the  king  fell  into  a  mighty  fume,  for  no  man  likes  to  have  a 
woman  tell  him  to  do  thus  and  so  when  things  are  in  a  pickle.  He  should 
like  to  know  what  the  princess  meant  by  coming  and  pouring  her  broth 
into  their  pot !  If  that  was  her  notion  she  might  help  the  soldier  herself. 
Married  he  should  be,  and  she  should  be  his  wife — that  was  what  the  king 
said. 

So  the  soldier  and  the  princess  were  married,  and  then  the  king  had 
them  both  put  into  a  great  chest  and  thrown  into  the  sea — but  there  was 
room  in  the  chest  for  Trouble,  and  he  went  along  with  them. 

Well,  they  floated  on  and  on  and  on  for  a  great  long  time,  until,  at  last, 
the  chest  came  ashore  at  a  place  where  three  giants  lived. 

The  three  giants  were  sitting  on  the  shore  fishing.  "  See,  brothers," 
said  the  first  one  of  them, "  yonder  is  a  great  chest  washed  up  on  the  shore." 
So  they  went  over  to  where  it  was,  and  then  the  second  giant  took  it  on 
his  shoulder  and  carried  it  home.  After  that  they  all  three  sat  down  to 
supper. 

Just  then  the  soldier's  nose  began  to  itch  and  tickle,  so  that,  for  the  life 
of  him,  he  could  not  help  sneezing. 

"  At-tchew !" — and  there  it  was. 


#  trouble  Mtintty  iUagtofinb  if 


34  HOW  ONE  TURNED   HIS  TROUBLE  TO   SOME  ACCOUNT. 

"  Hark,  brothers !"  said  the  third  giant,  "  yonder  is  somebody  in  the 
chest !" 

So  the  three  giants  came  and  opened  the  chest,  and  there  were  the 
soldier  and  the  princess.  Trouble  was  there  too,  but  the  giants  saw 
nothing  of  him. 

They  bound  the  soldier  with  strong  cords  so  that  they  might  have  him 
to  eat  for  breakfast  in  the  morning. 

And  now  what  was  to  be  done  with  the  princess  ? 

"  See,  brothers,"  said  the  first  giant,  "  I  am  thinking  that  a  wife  will 
about  fit  my  needs.  This  lass  will  do  as  well  as  any,  and,  as  I  found  her,  I 
will  just  keep  her." 

"  Prut !  how  you  talk !"  said  the  second  giant,  "  do  you  think  that 
nobody  is  to  marry  in  the  wide  world  but  you  ?  Who  was  it  brought 
the  lass  to  the  house  I  should  like  to  know !  No ;  I  will  marry  her 
myself." 

"  Stop !"  said  the  third  giant.  "  You  are  both  going  too  fast  on  that 
road.  I  thought  of  a  wife  long  before  either  of  you.  Who  was  it  found 
that  the  lass  was  in  the  house,  I  should  like  to  know !" 

And  so  they  talked  and  talked  until  they  fell  to  quarrelling,  and  then  to 
blows.  Over  they  rolled,  cuffing  and  slapping,  until  each  one  killed  the 
other  two,  so  that  they  all  lay  as  dead  as  fishes.  And  that  was  an  end  of 
them. 

"  See,  now,"  said  Trouble  to  the  soldier,  "  who  can  say  that  I  have  done 
nothing  for  you  ?  I  tell  you,  comrade,  that  I  am  a  good  friend  of  yours,  and 
love  you  as  though  you  were  my  born  brother.  Listen  !  over  yonder  in  the 
field  is  a  great  stone  under  which  the  giants  have  hidden  stacks  and  stacks 
of  money.  Go  and  borrow  a  cart  and  two  horses,  and  I  will  go  with  you 
and  show  you  where  it  is." 

Well,  you  may  guess  that  that  was  a  song  that  pleased  the  soldier.  Off 
he  went  and  borrowed  a  cart  and  two  horses.  Then  he  and  Trouble  went 
into  the  field  together,  and  Trouble  showed  him  where  the  stone  was  where 
the  treasure  lay. 

The  soldier  rolled  the  stone  over,  and  there,  sure  enough,  lay  bags  and 
bags,  all  full  of  gold  and  silver  money. 

Down  he  went  into  the  pit  and  began  bringing  up  the  money  and 
loading  it  into  the  cart.  After  a  while  he  had  brought  it  all  but  one 
bag  full. 

"  See,  Trouble,"  said  he,  "  my  back  is  nearly  broken  with  carrying  the 


money.  There  is  still  one  bag  down  there  yet ;  go  down  like  a  good  lad 
and  bring  it  up  for  me." 

Oh,  yes !  Trouble  would  do  that  much  for  the  soldier,  for  had  they  not 
been  comrades  for  many  and  one  bright,  blessed  days  ?  Down  he  went  into 
the  pit,  and  then  you  may  believe  that  the  soldier  was  not  long  in  rolling 
the  stone  into  its  place.  So  there  was  Trouble  as  tight  as  a  fly  in  a  bottle. 

After  that  the  soldier  went  back  home  again  with  great  contentment — 
as  I  would  have  done  had  I  ridden  home  upon  a  cart  full  of  gold  and  silver, 
all  of  which  belonged  to  me.  He  had  left  one  bag  of  money,  but  then  it 
was  worth  that  much  to  be  rid  of  Trouble. 

After  that  the  soldier  built  a  ship  and  loaded  it  with  the  money.  Then 
he  and  the  princess  sailed  away  to  the  king's  house,  for  they  thought  that 


36  HOW  ONE  TURNED   HIS  TROUBLE  TO   SOME  ACCOUNT. 

maybe  the  king  would  like  them  better  now  that  Trouble  had  left  them 
and  money  had  come. 

When  the  king  saw  what  a  great  boatload  of  gold  and  silver  the  soldier 
had  brought  home  with  him  he  was  as  pleased  as  pleased  could  be.  He 
could  not  make  enough  of  the  brave  soldier;  he  called  him  son,  and 
walked  about  the  streets  with  him  arm  in  arm,  so  that  the  folks  might  see 
how  fond  he  was  of  his  son-in-law.  Besides  that  he  gave  him  half  of  the 
kingdom  to  rule  over,  so  that  the  soldier  and  the  princess  lived  together  as 
snugly  as  a  couple  of  mice  in  the  barn  when  threshing  is  going  on. 

Well,  one  day  a  neighbor  came  to  the  rich  brother  and  said,  "  Dear ! 
dear !  but  the  world  is  easy  with  your  brother,  the  soldier !" 

At  this  the  rich  brother  pricked  up  his  ears.  "  How  is  that  ?"  said  he — 
"my  brother,  the  soldier?  How  comes  the  world  to  be  easy  with  him,  I 
should  like  to  know  ?" 

Oh,  the  neighbor  could  not  tell  him  that ;  all  that  he  knew  was  that  the 
soldier  was  living  over  yonder  with  a  princess  for  his  wife,  and  more  gold 
and  silver  money  than  a  body  could  count  in  a  week.  - 

Well,  well,  this  would  never  do !  The  rich  brother  must  pick  up  ac- 
quaintance with  the  soldier  again,  now  that  he  was  rising  in  the  world.  So 
he  put  on  his  blue  Sunday  coat  and  his  best  hat,  and  away  he  went  to  the 
soldier's  house. 

Well,  the  'soldier  was  a  good-natured  fellow,  and  bore  grudges  against 
nobody,  so  he  shook  hands  with  his  brother,  and  they  sat  down  together 
by  the  stove.  Then  the  rich  brother  wanted  to  know  all  about  everything 
—how  came  it  that  the  other  was  so  well  off  in  the  world?  •. 

Oh,  there  was  no  secret  about  that ;  it  happened  thus  and  so.  And 
then  the  soldier  told  all  about  it.  After  that  the  other  went  home,  but 
there  was  a  great  buzzing  in  his  head,  I  can  tell  you  ! 

"  Now,"  says  he  to  himself,  "  I  will  go  over  yonder  to  the  giants'  house, 
and  will  let  Trouble  out  from  under  the  stone.  Then  he  will  come  here  to 
my  brother  and  will  turn  things  topsy-turvy,  and  I  will  get  the  bag  of 
money  that  was  left  there." 

So,  off  he  went  until  he  came  to  the  place  where  Trouble  lay  under  the 
stone.  He  rolled  the  stone  over,  and — whisk !  clip ! — out  popped  Trouble 
from  the  hole.  "And  so  you  were  leaving  me  here  to  be  starved,  were 
you?"  said  he. 

"  Oh,  dear  friend  Trouble  !  it  was  not  I,  it  was  my  brother,  the  soldier !" 

Oh,  well,  that  was  all  one  to  Trouble ;  now  that  he  was  out  he  would 


e  tnoncp  anb  trouble. 


stay  with  the  man  who  let  him  out,  and  there  was  an  end  of  it.  "  So  bring 
along  the  bag  of  gold,"  says  he,  "  for  it  is  high  time  that  we  were  going 
home." 

So  the  rich  brother  took  the  bag  of  gold  over  his  shoulder,  and  the  two 
went  home  together ;  and  if  anybody  was  down  in  the  mouth,  it  was  the 
rich  brother. 

And  now  everything  went  wrong  with  him,  for  Trouble  dogged  his  heels 
wherever  he  went.  At  last  his  patience  could  hold  out  no  longer,  and  he 
began  to  cudgel  his  brains  to  find  some  way  to  get  rid  of  the  other.  So 
one  day  he  says, 

"  Come,  Trouble,  we  will  go  out  into  the  forest  this  morning  and  cut 
some  wood." 

Well,  that  suited  Trouble  as  well  as  anything  else,  so  off  they  went  to- 
gether, arm  in  arm.  By  and  by  they  came  to  the  forest,  and  there  the  man 
cut  down  a  great  tree.  Then  he  split  open  the  stump,  and  drove  a  wedge 
into  it.  So  it  came  dinner-time,  and  then  Trouble  and  he  ate  together. 


38  HOW   ONE  TURNED   HIS  TROUBLE  TO  SOME  ACCOUNT. 

"  See  now,  Trouble,"  said  the  man,  "  they  tell  me  that  you  can  go  any- 
where in  all  of  the  world." 

"  Yes,"  said  Trouble,  "  that  is  so." 

"And  could  you  go  into  that  tree  that  I  have  split  yonder?" 

Oh,  yes  ;  Trouble  could  do  that  well  enough. 

If  that  was  so  the  man  would  like  to  see  him  do  it,  that  he  would. 

Oh,  Trouble  would  do  that  and  more,  too,  for  a  friend's  asking.  So  he 
made  himself  small  and  smaller,  and  so  crept  into  the  cleft  in  the  log  as 
easily  as  though  he  had  been  a  mouse.  But,  no  sooner  was  he  snugly  there 
than  the  man  seized  his  axe  and  knocked  out  the  wedge,  and  there  was 
Trouble  as  safe  as  safe  could  be.  He  might  beg  and  beg,  but  no,  the  man 
was  deaf  in  that  ear.  He  shouldered  his  axe  and  off  he  went,  leaving 
Trouble  where  he  was. 

Dear  me !  that  was  a  long  time  ago ;  or  else  some  busybody  must  have 
let  Trouble  out  of  that  log,  for  I  know  very  well  that  he  is  stumping  about 
the  world  nowadays. 


Udes. 


Four  O'clock 


was  grey; 

ock  crowea,and  far  away 
Another  answered .  In  a  dream 
The^We/drank  thickclotted  Cream, 
And  chased  Roast-Goose.  He  woke 
And  turned  upon  his  other  side 


How  threewent  out 


into  the  Wide  World . 


IV. 


HERE  was  a  woman  who  owned  a  fine  grey  goose. 
"  To-morrow,"  said  she,  "  I  will  pluck  the  goose  for 
live  feathers,  so  that  I  may  take  them  to  market  and 
sell  them  for  good  hard  money." 

This  the  goose  heard,  and  liked  it  not.    -"Why 
should  I  grow  live  feathers  for  other  folks  to  pluck?" 
said  she  to  herself.      So  off  she  went  into  the  wide 
world  with  nothing  upon  her  back  but  what  belonged 
to  her. 

By  and  by  she  came  up  with  a  sausage. 
"  Whither  away,  friend  ?"  said  the  Grey  Goose. 
"  Out  into  the  wide  world,"  said  the  Sausage. 
"  Why  do  you  travel  that  road  ?"  said  the  Grey  Goose. 
"  Why  should  I  stay  at  home  ?"  said  the  Sausage.     "  They  stuff  me  with 
good  meat  and  barley-meal  over  yonder,  but  they  only  do  it  for  other  folk's 
feasting.     That  is  the  way  with  the  world." 

"  Yes,  that  is  true,"  said  the  Grey  Goose ;  "  and  I  too  am  going  out  into 
the  world,  for  why  should  I  grow  live  feathers  for  other  folk's  plucking? 
So  let  us  travel  together,  as  we  are  both  of  a  mind." 

Well,  that  suited  the  Sausage  well  enough,  so  off  they  went,  arm  in  arm. 

By  and  by  they  came  up  with  a  cock. 

"  Whither  away,  friend  ?"  said  the  Grey  Goose  and  the  Sausage. 


42      HOW  THREE  WENT  OUT  INTO  THE  WIDE  WORLD. 

"  Out  into  the  wide  world,"  said  the  Cock. 

"  Why  do  you  travel  that  road  ?"  said  the  Grey  Goose  and  the  Sausage. 

"  Why  should  I  stay  at  home  ?"  said  the  Cock.  "  Every  day  they  feed 
me  with  barley-corn,  but  it  is  only  that  I  may  split  my  throat  in  the  morn- 
ings, calling  the  lads  to  the  fields  and  the  maids  to  the  milking.  That  is 
the  way  with  the  world." 

"  Yes,  that  is  true,"  said  the  Grey  Goose ;  "  why  should  I  grow  live 
feathers  for  other  folk's  picking?" 

And- 

"  Yes,  that  is  true,"  said  the  Sausage,  "why  should  I  be  stuffed  with 
meat  and  barley-meal  for  other  folk's  feasting?" 

So  the  three  being  all  of  a  mind,  they  settled  to  travel  the  same  road 
together. 

Well,  they  went  on  and  on  and  on,  until,  at  last,  they  came  to  a  deep 
forest,  and,  by  and  by,  whom  should  they  meet  but  a  great  red  fox. 

"  Whither  away,  friends  ?"  said  he. 

"  Oh,  we  are  going  out  into  the  wide  world,"  said  the  Grey  Goose,  the 
Sausage,  and  the  Cock. 

"  And  why  do  you  travel  that  road  ?"  said  the  Fox. 

Oh,  there  was  nothing  but  tangled  yarn  at  home :  the  Grey  Goose  grew 
live  feathers  for  other  folk's  picking,  the  Sausage  was  stuffed  for  other  folk's 
feasting,  and  the  Cock  crowed  in  the  morn  for  other  folk's  waking.  That 
was  the  way  of  the  world  over  yonder,  and  so  they  had  left  it. 

"  Yes,"  said  the  Fox,  "  that  is  true ;  so  come  with  me  into  the  deep 
forest,  for  there  every  one  can  live  for  himself !  and  nobody  else. 

So  they  all  went  into  the  forest  together,  for  the  Fox's  words  pleased 
them  very  much. 

"  And  now,"  said  the  Fox  to  the  Grey  Goose,  "  you  shall  be  my  wife," 
for  he  had  never  had  a  sweetheart  before,  and  even  a  Grey  Goose  is  better 
than  none. 

"  And  what  is  to  become  of  us?"  said  the  Sausage  and  the  Cock. 

"You  and  I  shall  be  dear  friends,"  said  the  Great  Red  Fox.  Thereat 
the  Cock  and  the  Sausage  were  content,  for  it  took  but  little  to  satisfy 
them. 

Well,  everything  was  just  as  the  Great  Red  Fox  had  said  it  should  be : 
the  Goose  kept  her  own  feathers,  the  Sausage  was  stuffed  for  its  own  good, 
the  Cock  crowed  for  its  own  ears,  and  everything  was  as  smooth  as  rich 
cream.  Moreover,  the  Great  Red  Fox  and  the  Grey  Goose  were  husband 


(Bttg  (Boo#e  goegout 


a  to'jsconf  cnf  c&    aujsage  tnttt% 
Cocbanbt^jfoir.  c 


44 


HOW  THREE  WENT  OUT  INTO  THE  WIDE  WORLD. 


and  wife,  and  the  Great  Red  Fox  and  the  Sausage  and  the  Cock  were  dear 
friends. 

One  morning  says  the  Great  Red  Fox  to  the  Grey  Goose,  "  Neighbor 
Cock  makes  a  mighty  hubbub  with  his  crowing !" 

"  Yes,  that  is  so,"  said  the  Grey  Goose ;  for  she  always  sang  the  same 
tune  as  the  Great  Red  Fox,  as  a  good  wife  should. 

"  Then,"  said  the  Great  Red  Fox,  "  I  will  go  over  and  have  a  talk  with 
him." 

So  off  he  packed,  and  by  and  by  he  came  to  Neighbor  Cock's  house. 
Rap !  tap !  tap !  he  knocked  at  the  door,  and  who  should  look  out  of  the 
window  but  the  Cock  himself. 

"  See,  Neighbor  Cock,"  said  the  Great  Red  Fox,  "  you  make  a  mighty 
hubbub  with  that  crowing  of  yours." 

"  That  may  be  so,  and  that  may  not  be  so,"  said  the  Cock ;  "  all  the 
same,  the  hubbub  is  in  my  own  house." 

"  That  is  good,"  said  the  Great  Red  Fox,  "  but  one  should  not  trouble 
one's  neighbors,  even  in  one's  own  house ;  so,  if  it  suits  you,  we  will  have 
no  more  crowing." 

"  I  was  made  for  crowing,  and  crow  I  must,"  said  the  Cock. 

"  You  must  crow  no  more,"  said  the  Great  Red  Fox. 

"  I  must  crow,"  said  the  Cock. 

"  You  must  not  crow,"  said  the  Great  Red  Fox. 

"  I  must  crow,"  said  the  Cock.  And  that  was  the  last  of  it  for — snip ! — 
off  went  its  head,  and  it  crowed  no  more.  Nevertheless,  he  had  the  last 
word,  and  that  was  some  comfort.  After  that  the  Great  Red  Fox  ate  up 
the  Cock,  body  and  bones,  and  then  he  went  home  again. 

"  Will  Neighbor  Cock  crow  again  ?"  said  the  Grey  Goose. 

"  No ;  he  will  crow  no  more,"  said  the  Fox ;  and  that  was  true. 

By  and  by  came  hungry  times,  with  little  or  nothing  in  the  house  to  eat. 
"  Look !"  said  the  Great  Red  Fox,  "  yonder  is  Neighbor  Sausage,  and  he 
has  plenty." 

"  Yes,  that  is  true,"  said  the  Grey  Goose. 

"  And  one's  friend  should  help  one  when  one  is  in  need,"  said  the  great 
Red  Fox. 

"  Yes,  that  is  true,"  said  the  Grey  Goose  again. 

So  off  went  the  Great  Red  Fox  to  Neighbor  Sausage's  house.  Rap  ! 
tap !  tap !  he  knocked  at  the  door,  and  it  was  the  Sausage  himself  who  came. 

"  See,"  said  the  Fox,  "  there  are  hungry  times  over  at  our  house." 


boujst  b«auj3ei)e  toill  croto  m  tfje 
c  worn. 


"  I  am  sorry  for  that,"  said  the  Sausage ;  "  but  hungry  times  will  come 
to  the  best  of  us." 

"  That  is  so,"  said  the  Great  Red  Fox,  "  but,  all  the  same,  you  must  help 
me  through  this  crack.  One  would  be  in  a  bad  pass  without  a  friend  to 
turn  to." 

"  But  see,"  said  the  Sausage,  "  all  that  I  have  is  mine,  and  it  is  inside  of 
me  at  that." 

"  Nevertheless,  I  must  have  some  of  it,"  said  the  Great  Red  Fox. 

"  But  you  can't  have  it,"  said  the  Sausage. 

"  But  I  must  have  it,"  said  the  Great  Red  Fox. 

"  But  you  can't  have  it,"  said  the  Sausage. 

And  so  they  talked  and  talked  and  talked,  but  the  end  came  at  last,  for 
one  cannot  talk  forever  to  an  empty  stomach.  Snip !  snap !  and  the 
Sausage  was  down  the  Great  Red  Fox's  throat,  and  there  was  an  end  of 
it.  And  now  the  Fox  had  all  that  his  friend  had  to  give  him,  and  so  he 
went  back  home  again. 


ffcty  CBttatEe&jTor  rejst*  ?of  fltfaf  Ijome 


"  Did  Neighbor  Sausage  give  you  anything?"  said  the  Grey  Goose. 

"  Oh,  'yes ;  he  gave  me  all  that  he  had  with  him,"  said  the  Great  Red 
Fox ;  and  that  also  was  very  true. 

After  that  the  world  went  around  for  a  while  as  easily  as  a  greased 
wheel.  But  one  day  the  Great  Red  Fox  said  to  the  Grey  Goose :  "  See 
now,  my  bones  grow  sore  by  lying  on  the  hard  stones." 

"  That  is  a  great  pity,"  said  the  Grey  Goose ;  "  and  if  the  hard  stones 
were  only  soft,  I,  for  one,  would  be  glad." 

"  Yes,"  said  the  Great  Red  Fox,  "  that  is  good ;  but  soft  talking  makes 
them  none  the  easier  to  lie  upon.  Could  you  not  spare  me  a  few  of  your 
feathers  ?" 

"  A  few  feathers  indeed  !"  said  the  Grey  Goose,  "  it  was  not  for  this  that 
I  left  the  ways  of  the  world  over  yonder.  If  you  must  have  feathers  you 
must  pluck  them  from  your  own  back." 

"  Prut !"  said  the  Great  Red  Fox,  "  how  you  speak !  A  wife  should  do 
all  that  she  can  to  make  the  world  soft  for  her  husband." 


48      HOW  THREE  WENT  OUT  INTO  THE  WIDE  WORLD. 

Then  you  should  have  heard  the  Grey  Goose  talk  and  talk.  But  it  was 
no  use ;  when  times  are  hard  with  one,  one's  wife  should  help  to  feather  the 
nest — that  was  what  the  Great  Red  Fox  said. 

Snip !  snap !  crunch !  cranch !  and  off  went  the  Grey  Goose's  head. 
After  that  the  Fox  ate  her  up,  body  and  bones,  and  there  was  an  end  of 
her..  Then  he  lay  upon  soft  feathers  and  slept  easily. 

Now  this  is  true  that  I  tell  you :  when  a  great  red  fox  and  a  grey 
goose  marry,  and  hard  times  come,  one  must  make  it  soft  for  the  other — 
mostly  it  is  the  grey  goose  who  does  that. 

Also  I  would  have  you  listen  to  this :  some  folks  say  that  it  is  not  so, 
but  7  tell  you  that  the  ways  of  the  world  are  the  ways  of  the  world,  even  in 
the  deep  forest. 


clock 


he  sleepy  Maid  comes  stumblingdown 
The  Stairs*  while  buttoning her  Gown, 
And  pokes  the  fire  with  a  Frown . 

Up  in  a  rage  the  Kobold  fl ies , 

And  blows  the  Ashes  in  her  eyes ; 

' Plague  on  the  Fire/"poor  Gretchen  cries . 


Sol. 

below 


The  Goodman  turned  about  in  £ed, 

**   And  from  the  Pillow  raised  his  Head 

"Wife,  IVife,  its  five  o'clock!"  he  said. 

K.P. 


and  the  Master  of 
BlackArts 


V. 


HE  wood-chopper's  son  was  not  content  to  follow  in 
the  steps  of  his  father,  and  to  do  nothing  better  than 
make  fagots  all  the  days  of  his  life.  So  off  he  went 
to  the  great  school  at  the  capital,  and  there  he 
studied  and  studied  until  he  became  the  cleverest 
student  in  all  of  the  world.  But  of  this  his  father 
thought  nothing,  for  he  had  no  care  to  know  more 
than  he  could  see  in  front  of  his  nose. 

"  I  can  speak  sixteen  languages,"  said  the  Clever  Student,  "  I  am  a  mas- 
ter-hand at  geometry  and  astronomy,  and  I  know  quite  as  much  of  black  art 
as  the  Great  Master  himself." 

"  But  can  you  chop  wood  ?"  said  the  wood-chopper, "  and  can  you  bind 
the  fagots?" 

No ;  the  Clever  Student  knew  nothing  of  that  trade,  but  there  were 
better  eggs  in  Luck's  nest  than  wood-chopping.  He  knew  enough  of  the 
black  art  to  be  able  to  change  himself  into  a  fine,  dapple-gray  nag  whenever 
he  chose,  and  by  no  more  than  the  turning  of  a  word  or  two.  That  he 
would  do,  and  the  old  wood-chopper  should  take  him  to  the  town  and  sell 
him  for  fifty  dollars. 

"  But  there  is  one  thing  you  must  remember,"  said  the  Clever  Student, 
"  you  must  take  the  bridle  from  off  my  head  when  you  sell  me,  for  so  long 


52      THE   CLEVER  STUDENT  AND  THE  MASTER  OF   BLACK  ARTS. 

as  it  is  on  me  I  must,  willy-nilly,  remain  a  horse.  The  Great  Master  of 
Black  Arts  would  like  nothing  better  than  to  catch  me  in  such  a  trap  as 
that,  for  his  books  tell  him  that  he  is  to  have  bad  luck  through  me,  and  he 
has  been  after  me  for  this  many  a  day." 

The  wood-chopper  promised  to  remember  all  that  the  Clever  Student 
told  him,  and  then  the  other  went  around  back  of  the  house  and  changed 
himself  into  a  fine,  dapple-gray  horse.  The  wood-chopper  slipped  a  bridle 
over  the  nag's  nose  and  a  leg  over  his  back,  and  then  off  he  rode  towards 
the  town. 

On  and  on  they  jogged  till  they  came  to  where  two  roads  crossed,  and 
there  stood  one  who  looked  no  better  than  he  should.  This  was  the  Great 
Master  of  Black  Arts  himself ;  but  of  that  the  wood-chopper  knew  nothing 
at  all. 

"  How  do  you  find  yourself,  friend  ?"  said  the  Master  of  Black  Arts  to 
the  wood-chopper ;  "  that  is  a  fine  horse  that  you  have  there,  to  be  sure.  Is 
he  for  sale  now  ?" 

"  Yes,"  said  the  wood-chopper,  "  the  nag  is  for  sale,  and  fifty  dollars  will 
buy  him — only  the  bridle  does  not  go  along  with  the  horse." 

Good  !  The  wood-chopper  might  keep  the  bridle  and  welcome ;  but 
palm  to  palm  for  a  true  sale,  and  here  was  the  money. 

So  they  shook  hands,  and  then  the  Master  of  Black  Arts  counted  out  the 
money,  and  the  wood-chopper  pocketed  it,  and  he  had  never  rubbed  his  fin- 
gers over  so  much  in  all  of  his  life  before. 

Then,  as  quick  as  a  wink,  the  Master  of  Black  Arts  drew  a  bridle  out  of 
his  pocket.  It  was  as  thin  as  a  wire  and  as  light  as  silk,  yet  I  tell  you  the 
truth  when  I  say  that  if  he  had  ever  slipped  it  over  the  nose  of  the  Clever 
Student  it  would  have  been  an  ill  thing  for  him. 

But  the  Student  had  his  eyes  open,  and  his  wits  about  him.  No  sooner 
had  his  father  taken  the  bridle  off  of  him  than — whisk !  pop ! — he  changed 
himself  into  a  pigeon  and  away  he  flew  till  the  wind  whistled  behind  him. 

But  the  Master  of  Black  Arts  knew  a  trick  as  good  as  that,  that  he  did. 
Whisk !  pop ! — and  he  became  a  hawk,  and  away  he  flew  after  the  pigeon, 
and  all  that  the  wood-chopper  could  do  was  to  stand  and  look  after  them — 
But  he  had  the  fifty  dollars  in  his  pocket,  and  that  was  something  and  more 
or  less. 

On  and  on  flew  the  two,  and  if  the  pigeon  flew  fast,  why,  the  hawk  flew 
faster. 

By  and  by  they  came  to  the  shore  of  a  great  sea.    And  that  was  a  good 


54 


THE  CLEVER  STUDENT  AND  THE  MASTER  OF   BLACK  ARTS. 


thing  for  the  Clever  Student,  for,  just  as  the  hawk  was  about  to  grip  him, 
he  dropped  to  the  water  and  became  a  little  fish,  and  away  he  swam. 

But  the  Master  of  Black  Arts  knew  a  trick  as  good  as  that.  Down  to 
the  water  he  dropped  and  became  a  pike,  and  after  the  little  fish  he  swam 
till  the  water  boiled  behind  him. 

On  and  on  they  swam,  and  if  the  little  fish  swam  fast,  why,  the  great  pike 
swam  faster.  On  and  on  they  swam  till  they  came  to  a  place  where  a  beau- 
tiful princess,  as  white  and  as  red  as  milk  and  rose  leaves,  was  walking  along 
beside  the  shore  gathering  pretty  shells  into  a  little  basket.  And  that  was  a 
good  thing  for  the  Clever  Student,  for  just  as  the  Master  of  Black  Arts  was 
about  to  catch  him  he  changed  himself  into  a  ruby  ring  and  jumped  out  of 
the  sea  and  into  the  basket  of  the  princess,  and  there  he  was  safe  and  sound. 

Presently  the  princess  looked  down  into  the  basket,  and  there  lay  the 
ring.  "  What  a  pretty  ring !"  said  she.  "  And  how  came  it  here?" 

She  slipped  it  upon  her  finger,  and  it  fitted  as  though  it  had  been  made 
for  nobody  in  the  world  but  her.  As  for  the  Clever  Student,  he  liked  to  be 
there,  I  can  tell  you,  for  he  thought  that  he  had  never  seen  such  a  pretty 
lass. 

Well,  by  and  by  the  princess  had  gathered  all  of  the  shells  that  she 
wanted,  and  then  she  went  back  home  again. 

When  she  had  come  there  and  to  her  own  little  room,  all  of  a  sudden  a 
tall,  good-looking  young  fellow  stood  before  her.  That  was  the  Clever 
Student,  wh'o  had  changed  himself  back  into  his  own  true  shape  again.  At 
first  the  princess  was  ever  so  frightened,  but  the  Student  talked  to  her  so 
pleasantly  that  she  began  after  a  while  to  think  that  she  had  never  seen 
such  a  nice,  clever  young  fellow.  So  they  passed  the  time  very  pleasantly 
together  until  evening  drew  near,  and  then  the  Student  had  to  go. 

But  the  Master  of  Black  Arts  was  not  at  the  end  of  his  tricks  yet. 

And  the  Clever  Student  knew  that  as  well  as  he  knew  anything. 

"  See,  now,"  said  he  to  the  princess, "  the  Master  will  be  coming  after 
me  before  long.  When  he  comes  he  will  ask  for  the  ruby  ring,  and  he  must 
have  it,  but  I  have  a  trick  in  my  head  to  meet  that." 

He  cut  off  a  lock  of  his  hair  and  then  pricked  his  arm  till  it  bled.  With 
the  blood  he  wet  the  hair,  and  by  his  arts  he  made  of  it  a  ruby  ring  so  like 
what  he  himself  had  been  that  even  the  princess  herself  could  not  have  told 
the  one  from  the  other.  After  that  he  changed  himself  into  a  necklace  of 
carbuncles,  and  the  princess  was  just  as  fond  of  it  as  she  had  been  of  the 
ring. 


ftubp  Brogue  longer,  fjam'ng 


56     THE  CLEVER  STUDENT  AND   THE   MASTER   OF   BLACK  ARTS. 

Sure  enough,  it  happened  just  as  the  Clever  Student  had  foretold.  Be- 
fore a  great  while  the  Master  of  Black  Arts  came  along  and  on  his  arm  he 
carried  a  basket.  Rap  !  tap  !  tap  !  he  knocked  at  the  door  of  the  king's 
house.  Down  went  one  and  asked  him  what  he  wanted. 

Oh !  he  only  wanted  to  see  the  king ;  he  had  something  for  him  here 
in  the  basket.  So  he  was  shown  up  to  where  the  king  was,  and  then  he 
opened  the  basket  and  in  it  was  a  little  black  hen. 

"  Only  a  little  black  hen !"  you  say  ?  Wait ;  you  should  hear  all  before 
you  speak ! 

The  Master  of  Black  Arts  stood  the  little  black  hen  on  the  table. 
"  Hickety-pickety !"  said  he,  and  before  the  king  knew  what  to  think  of  it 
the  little  black  hen  had  laid  an  egg  all  of  pure  silver.  And  that  hen  was 
worth  the  having. 

As  for  the  king,  bless  me !  but  he  was  glad  to  have  such  a  hen  as  that. 
If  the  master  wanted  anything  that  the  king  could  give  him,  he  had  only  to 
ask  for  it  and  it  was  as  good  as  his. 

"  So ;  good !"  says  the  Black  Master,  "  then  there  is  a  little  ruby  ring 
that  the  princess  wears  and  that  I  have  taken  a  fancy  to ;  if  I  may  have 
that  it  will  be  all  that  I  ask  for." 

Oh !  if  that  was  all  that  he  wanted  he  should  have  it  and  welcome,  that 
was  what  the  king  said.  So  the  pretty  princess  was  sent  for,  and  the  king 
asked  her  if  she  would  give  the  Master  of  Black  Arts  the  ruby  ring  that  she 
wore. 

"  Oh,  yes !"  says  the  princess,  "  he  shall  have  that  and  welcome,  for  I 
have  grown  tired  of  it  long  ago."  So  she  gave  it  to  him,  and  off  he  went 
on  the  same  path  that  he  had  come. 

As  soon  as  he  had  reached  home,  he  put  the  ring  into  a  mortar  and 
ground  it  up  until  it  was  as  fine  as  flour  in  the  mill. 

"  There !"  said  he  to  himself,  "  that  is  an  end  of  the  Clever  Student  at 
any  rate." 

After  that  he  went  back  to  his  books  again  and  began  to  read  them, 
and  then  he  soon  found  how  he  had  been  tricked  by  the  Clever  Student. 

The  princess  and  the  Clever  Student  were  sitting  together.  "  See,  now," 
said  the  Student,  "  the  Master  of  Black  Arts  will  be  coming  this  way  again 
in  a  little  while.  He  will  be  wanting  the  necklace  of  carbuncles,  and  you 
will  have  to  let  him  have  it.  But  I  have  a  trick  for  his  trick  yet,  so  that 
perhaps  we  will  get  the  better  of  him  in  the  end." 

So  the  Clever  Student  did  as  he  had  done  before ;  he  pricked  his  arm 


lie 


actmoujs  fettle  Black  J^tn  to 


€ 


58     THE  CLEVER   STUDENT  AND  THE   MASTER  OF   BLACK  ARTS. 

till  it  bled,  and  with  the  blood  he  wet  a  lock  of  his  hair.  Then  by  his  arts 
he  changed  the  lock  of  hair  into  just  such  a  necklace  of  carbuncles  as  he 
himself  had  been.  After  that  he  changed  himself  into  a  pearl  ear-drop,  and 
the  princess  hung  him  in  her  ear,  and  there  he  dangled. 

Sure  enough ;  by  and  by  came  along  the  Master  of  Black  Arts  with 
another  basket.  And  you  may  believe  that  they  did  not  let  him  cool  his 
toes  by  long  standing  outside  the  door.  He  opened  his  basket,  and  in  it 
was  a  white  drake. 

"  Only  a  white  drake !"  you  say  ?    Yes,  yes ;  but  just  wait  for  a  little  ! 

The  Master  of  Black  Arts  stood  the  drake  on  the  table  and  said, 
"  Spickety-lickety !" 

"  Quack !  quack !"  said  the  drake,  and  every  time  it  said  "  quack  "  a  gold 
piece  dropped  from  its  mouth. 

Hui !  if  the  king  was  pleased  with  the  little  black  hen,  you  can  guess 
how  glad  he  was  to  have  such  a  drake  as  that !  All  that  the  Master  of 
Black  Arts  had  to  do  was  to  ask  for  what  he  wanted,  and  he  might  have  it 
if  the  king  had  it  to  give. 

"  Good !"  says  the  Master  of  Black  Arts ;  "  then  the  princess  has  a  neck- 
lace of  carbuncles  that  I  have  taken  a  fancy  to ;  if  I  may  have  that  I  will  be 
satisfied." 

So  the  princess  was  sent  for  without  waiting  any  longer,  and  would  she 
let  the  Master  have  the  necklace  of  carbuncles  that  she  wore  around  her 
neck? 

"  Yes,  indeed  !"  says  the  princess,  "  that  I  will !  I  have  grown  sick  and 
tired  of  it  long  ago."  So  she  took  it  off  of  her  neck  and  gave  it  to  the 
Master  of  Black  Arts,  and  off  he  went  with  it. 

When  he  came  home  he  put  the  necklace  into  the  mortar,  just  as  he  had 
done  the  ring,  and  ground  it  up  and  ground  it  up  until  it  was  as  fine  as  the 
dust  on  the  shelf.  There !  he  thought,  that  is  an  end  of  the  Clever  Student 
at  any  rate. 

Then  he  went  back  to  his  books,  and  it  was  not  long  before  he  found 
that  he  had  been  tricked  again. 

"  I  can  make  no  more  changes,"  said  the  Student,  "  for  I  am  nearly 
at  the  end  of  my  arts.  The  Black  Master  will  be  wanting  your  ear-drop 
when  he  comes,  but,  instead  of  giving  it  to  him,  throw  it  against  the  wall 
as  hard  as  you  can.  After  that  we  shall  have  to  trust  to  good  Mother 
Luck." 

It  was  not  long  before  the  Master  of  Black  Arts  came  with  his  basket  on 


THE  CLEVER  STUDENT  AND  THE  MASTER  OF   BLACK  ARTS.    59 

his  arm,  just  as  he  had  done  twice  before ;  he  opened  the  basket,  and  there 
was  a  grey  goose. 

"  Only  a  grey  goose !"  you  say  ?  Wait  a  moment,  and  you  shall  see 
that  it  was  not  like  any  grey  goose  in  our  town ! 

The  Master  of  Black  Arts  stood  the  grey  goose  on  the  table ;  "  Flickety- 
whickety !"  said  he. 

"  Cackle !  cackle !"  said  the  grey  goose,  and  every  time  it  said  "  cackle  " 
a  bright  diamond  dropped  on  the  table. 

When  the  king  saw  that  he  rubbed  his  hands  and  rubbed  his  hands,  and 
could  not  say  enough  of  thanks  to  the  Master  of  Black  Arts.  And  what 
would  the  Master  have  now  ?  He  had  only  to  ask  and  it  was  his. 

"  Oh  !"  says  the  Master  of  Black  Arts,  "  the  princess  has  a  pearl  ear-drop 
that  I  have  taken  a  liking  to ;  if  I  may  have  that  I  will  be  quite  satisfied." 

So  the  princess  was  sent  for,  and  this  time  she  was  not  so  willing  to  let 
the  Master  have  what  he  wanted.  She  wept  and  begged,  and  begged  and 
wept ;  but  it  was  all  to  no  purpose ;  the  Master  of  Black  Arts  wanted  the 
pearl  ear-drop,  and  the  Master  of  Black  Arts  must  have  it — that  was  what 
the  king  said.  So  at  last  the  princess  took  the  pearl  ear-drop  out  of  her 
ear,  but,  instead  of  giving  it  to  the  Master,  she  threw  it  against  the  wall  as 
hard  as  she  was  able,  just  as  the  Clever  Student  had  told  her  to  do. 

And  then  what  do  you  think  happened  ?  Why,  the  Student  turned  him- 
self into  a  ripe  melon,  so  that  when  it  struck  the  wall  it  burst  open  and  the 
seeds  that  were  inside  were  scattered  all  over  the  floor. 

But  the  Master  of  Black  Arts  knew  a  trick  as  good  as  that.  He 
changed  himself  into  a  great  red  cock,  and  began  pecking  away  at  the 
seeds,  gobbling  them  up  as  fast  as  he  could.  By  and  by  he  looked  around, 
and  not  another  seed  could  he  see,  whereupon  he  hopped  up  on  a  chair  and, 
shutting  his  eyes  and  flapping  his  wings,  he  crowed  "  cock-a-doodle-do !" 

But  listen !  One  melon-seed  had  rolled  into  a  crack  in  the  floor,  and 
the  cock  had  not  seen  it.  That  was  a  bad  thing  for  him,  for  while  his 
eyes  were  shut  and  he  was  crowing  "  cock-a-doodle-do !"  the  Clever  Stu- 
dent changed  himself  from  the  melon-seed  into  a  great  fox.  Up  he  jumped 
— snip  !  snap  ! — and  off  flew  the  cock's  head,  and  there  was  an  end  of  it  and 
of  the  Master  of  Black  Arts. 

After  that  the  Student  turned  himself  into  his  own  true  shape  again. 
Then  he  and  the  princess  told  the  king  all  about  the  business,  and  when  the 
king  heard  how  fond  the  princess  was  of  the  lad,  he  said  that  there  was  only 
one  thing  to  be  done,  and  that  was  to  call  in  the  minister. 


Black  Staffer  a 


THE  CLEVER  STUDENT  AND  THE  MASTER  OF   BLACK  ARTS.     6l 

So  the  Student  was  married  to  his  dear  princess,  and  that  is  what  comes 
of  book-learning. 

After  the  wedding  was  all  over,  and  the  fiddlers  had  gone  home,  the 
Clever  Student  set  out  for  his  father's  house  in  a  fine  coach  drawn  by  six 
beautiful  horses.  There  was  the  old  man,  making  fagots  in  the  forest  back 
of  the  house,  just  as  he  had  always  done.  At  first  he  would  not  believe 
that  the  great  lord  in  the  coach  was  his  own  son.  "  No,  no,"  says  he ;  "  and 
is  it  becoming  in  a  fine  spark  from  the  great  town  to  come  here  and  make 
sport  of  a  poor  old  wood-chopper.  I  know  very  well  that  my  son  is  nothing 
but  a  poor  student."  But  at  last  he  got  the  whole  matter  through  his  head, 
and  then  he  was  so  glad  that  he  kissed  his  son  on  both  cheeks,  and  asked 
him  whether  he  had  not  always  said  that  it  was  better  for  his  boy  to  study 
books  than  to  make  fagots.  For  this  is  true :  everything  happens  for  the 
best  when  Luck  strokes  one  the  right  way. 

So  the  fagot-maker  went  back  with  his  son  to  the  fine  house  that  the 
lad  lived  in,  now  that  he  had  married  a  princess. 

There  everything  was  made  easy  for  him,  and  he  always  had  a  warm 
corner  to  sit  in  back  of  the  stove. 

And  that  is  the  end  of  this  story. 


'clock 


KtfPP. 


\\sDoor  is  open  , 

The  Dew  is  bright  ; 
Forgotten  now 

Is  the  lonesome-/!//*, 

And  the  Starling  whistles, 

•     •  i  .»* 

is  right. 


The  ffouse-wife  moves 

^  With  her  briskest  tread 
The  Chairs  are  set  , 

And  the  Table  spread    3 
^T\t\\  Honey  andZW* 
And  Cream  and  Bread. 


KTIC 


he  Princess  GoIden^Hair 


VI. 


|NCE  upon  a  time  there  was  a  king  who  had  three 
daughters ,  the  two  elder  were  handsome  enough, 
but  the  youngest,  whose  name  was  Golden-Hair,  was 
the  prettiest  maiden  to  be  found  within  the  four  ends 
of  the  earth. 

One  day  the  king  went  out  hunting  with  all  his 
people.     Towards  evening  he  found  himself  in  the 
forest  at  a  place  where  he  had  never  been  before, 
and  where  he  was  not  able  to  tell  the  north  from  the  south,  nor  the  east 
from  the  west,  for  he  was  lost.     He  wandered  up  and  down  and  here  and 
there,  but  the  farther  he  went  the  less  able  he  was  to  find  the  road  home 
again.     As  he  wandered  -thus  he  came  to  a  place  where  a  great  raven, 
as  black  as  the  soot  in  the  chimney,  and  with  eyes  that  glowed  like  two 
coals  of  fire,  sat  in  the  middle  of  the  path  in  front  of  him. 
"  Whither  away,  king  ?"  said  the  Great  Black  Raven. 
"That  I  cannot  tell,"  said  the  king, "  for  I  am  lost." 
"  See  now,"  said  the  Raven, "  I  will  show  you  the  way  out  of  the  forest, 
if  you  will  give  me  your  youngest  daughter  to  be  my  wife." 

"  Oh,  no,"  said  the  king,  "  I  can  never  do  such  a  thing  as  that,  for  my 
daughter  is  as  dear  to  me  as  the  apple  of  my  eye."  ' 

i  "  Very  well,  then,"  said  the  Raven, "  off  I  go,  and  then  there  will  be  no 
getting  out  of  the  forest  for  you,  but  here  you  will  have  to  stay  as  long  as 
you  live." 
5 


66       PRINCESS  GOLDEN-HAIR  AND  THE  GREAT  BLACK   RAVEN. 

Now  one  will  do  much  before  one  will  stay  in  a  dark  forest  forever,  and 
though  it  was  a  bad  piece  of  business  to  be  sure,  the  king  promised  at  last 
that  if  the  Raven  would  show  him  the  way  home  again,  it  should  have  the 
Princess  Golden-Hair  for  its  wife,  though  it  was  a  pity  for  the  girl,  and  that 
was  the  truth.  So  the  Raven  flapped  on  ahead  of  the  king,  and  showed 
him  the  way  out  of  the  forest. 

"  To-morrow,"  it  said, "  I  will  come  for  my  bride." 

Sure  enough,  when  the  next  morning  came,  there  was  the  Great  Black 
Raven  sitting  outside  of  the  castle  gateway  waiting  for  the  Princess  Golden- 
Hair  to  be  sent  to  him. 

But  it  was  not  the  princess  whom  he  got  after  all ;  for  the  king  had 
bade  them  dress  the  swineherd's  daughter  in  the  princess's  dress,  and  it  was 
she  who  went  to  the  Great  Black  Raven.  "A  Great  Black  Raven,"  said 
the  king  to  himself, "  will  never  be  able  to  tell  a  swineherd's  daughter  from 
a  real  princess." 

Well,  the  Raven  took  the  swineherd's  daughter  on  its  back  and  away  it 
flew  over  woods  and  meadows,  hills  and  valleys,  until  by  and  by  it  came  to 
a  rude  little  hut  that  stood  on  the  tip  top  of  a  great  bleak  hill.  And  not  a 
living  soul  was  there,  only  a  great  number  of  birds  of  different  kinds. 

In  the  hut  was  a  table,  and  on  the  table  stood  a  golden  goblet  of  red 
wine,  a  silver  cup  of  white  wine,  and  an  earthenware  jug  full  of  bitter  beer. 

"  This  is  our  home,"  said  the  Raven ;  "  and  now  will  my  dear  one  drink 
refreshment  after  her  long  journey?" 

Yes,  indeed  ;  the  swineherd's  daughter  would  do  that,  for  she  was  weary 
after  her  ride  through  the  air.  So  she  went  to  the  table  and  took  a  good 
drink  of  the  beer,  "  for,"  said  she  to  herself,  "  the  golden  goblet  and  the 
silver  cup  are  too  fine  for  the  likes  of  me." 

Then  the  Raven  knew  that  she  was  no  true  princess  to  be  contented 
with  bitter  beer  out  of  an  earthenware  jug  when  she  could  have  good  red 
wine  from  a  golden  goblet.  "  Come,"  said  he, "  home  we  go  again,  for  you 
are  not  the  bride  I  seek !"  Therewith  he  took  her  upon  his  back  once  more, 
and  away  they  flew  over  hill  and  valley  till  they  had  come  back  to.  the 
king's  castle  again. 

"  See,"  said  the  Raven,  "  this  is  not  the  one  I  want.  Let  me  have  my 
true  bride  or  you  will  suffer  for  it." 

At  this  the  king  was  frightened.  "  Very  well,"  said  he, "  come  to-mor- 
row and  you  shall  have  your  true  bride." 

Well,  when  the  next  morning  came,  there  was  the  Raven  waiting  outside 


lifting  king  lojstfap  jf 

mceijs  tait^  t^e  (Swat  Blacfc  Eauem 


68       PRINCESS  GOLDEN-HAIR  AND  THE  GREAT  BLACK  RAVEN. 

of  the  castle  gateway.  But,  after  all,  it  was  not  the  princess  that  he  got,  for 
the  king  had  ordered  that  the  steward's  daughter  should  be  dressed  in  the 
princess's  dress,  "  for  surely,"  said  he  to  himself,  "  she  is  a  good  enough 
bride  for  a  Great  Black  Raven." 

So  the  Raven  took  her  on  his  back  and  away  he  flew  till  he  had  come  to 
the  little  hut  on  top  of  the  bleak  hill.  There  stood  the  golden  goblet,  the 
silver  cup,  and  the  earthenware  jug  just  as  they  had  done  before.  And  now 
would  not  the  dear  maiden  drink  a  drop  after  her  long  journey? 

Yes,  indeed,  that  she  would ;  so  she  took  a  good,  hearty  drink  of  the 
white  wine  in  the  silver  cup,  "  for,"  said  she  to  herself,  "  silver  is  none  too 
good  for  a  steward's  daughter." 

But  the  Raven  saw  very  well  that  she  was  no  true  princess,  or  she  would 
never  have  been  contented  with  the  silver  cup.  "  Come,"  said  he,  "  home 
we  go  again,  for  you  are  not  the  bride  I  seek."  So  he  took  her  on  his  back 
once  more  and  away  he  flew  to  the  king's  castle.  "  See  how  you  treat 
me,"  said  he  to  the  king, "  you  promise  me  one  bride  and  give  me  another. 
To-morrow  morning  I  will  come  for  the  true  one  again,  and  if  I  do  not  get 
her  this  time  you  will  suffer  for  it,  for  I  will  pick  out  your  eyes  and  tear 
down  your  castle  about  your  ears !"  And  away  he  flew. 

And  now  the  king  was  terribly  frightened,  and  saw  that  there  must  be 
no  trickery  this  time.  So  the  next  morning  when  the  Raven  came  it  was 
the  Princess  Golden-Hair  herself  whom  he  got  and  none  other.  Up  he  took 
her  on  his  back  and  away  he  flew  with  her.  As  for  the  princess,  she  did 
nothing  but  weep  and  weep,  so  that  when  they  came  to  the  little  hut  on 
top  of  the  bleak  hill,  she  was  glad  enough  to  drink  a  drop  for  refreshment's 
sake.  She  never  looked  at  the  earthen  jug  or  the  silver  cup,  but  going 
straight  to  the  golden  goblet  she  wet  her  lips  with  the  good  red  wine. 

And  then  what  do  you  think  happened  ?  Why,  the  hut  grew  and  grew 
until  it  changed  into  a  splendid  castle  all  built  of  pure  silver  and  gold,  and 
all  of  the  many  birds  outside  changed  into  men  and  women  servants.  As 
for  the  Great  Black  Raven,  it  was  a  Raven  no  longer,  but  the  handsomest 
prince  in  all  of  the  world,  and  the  only  thing  black  about  him  was  the  long 
curling  locks  of  his  hair.  He  kissed  the  Princess  Golden-Hair  and  said : 
"  Now,  indeed,  have  I  found  my  true  bride  and  none  other.  You  have  freed 
me  and  my  castle  and  all  of  my  people  from  enchantment,  which  no  one 
but  a  real  princess  could  do.  For  my  wicked  stepmother  laid  spells  upon 
us  which  could  only  be  broken  when  a  real  princess  drank  out  of  the 
golden  goblet." 


a  true  p  jincesjs,  drinketfy  from  tfy  golden 
cup  f»  toucf)e£imti)tt  p  ^tfoer  noj  p  dap* 


7o       PRINCESS  GOLDEN-HAIR  AND  THE  GREAT  BLACK  RAVEN. 

Then  they  were  married,  and  a  fine  wedding  they  had  of  it,  I  can  tell 
you. 

Well,  a  year  passed  by,  and  the  princess  was  as  happy  as  the  days  were 
long ;  but  at  the  end  of  the  twelve  months  she  began  to  long  to  see  her 
father  and  her  sisters  again.  So  she  spoke  of  her  longing  to  the  Raven 
prince,  but  he  only  shook  his  head.  No ;  he  would  not  hear  of  her  going, 
for  he  felt  that  nothing  but  misfortune  would  come  of  it. 

But  the  princess  begged  and  begged  so  prettily  that  at  last  the  prince 
said  she  might  go  if  she  would  be  contented  to  stay  only  three  days.  Then 
he  gave  her  a  napkin  of  the  finest  linen,  and  told  her  that  whenever  she 
wanted  anything,  she  had  only  to  spread  the  napkin  and  wish  and  it  would 
be  there.  But  there  was  one  thing  she  must  not  wish  for,  and  that  was  for 
him  himself,  for  of  that  misfortune  would  come  for  sure  and  certain. 

So  off  the  princess  went  to  her  father's  house,  and  a  fine  sight  she  made 
of  it,  I  can  tell  you  ;  for  she  rode  in  a  golden  coach  drawn  by  four  milk-white 
horses,  so  that  every  one  she  passed  stopped  and  looked  after  her,  and  the 
little  boys  cried  "  Hi !"  and  ran  along  beside. 

Her  father  and  her  sisters  wondered  what  fine  lady  it  was  that  was 
coming  to  the  castle,  and  when  the  coach  stopped  they  came  out  to  look. 
Dear,  dear,  but  the  king  was  glad  to  see  her ;  as  for  her  two  sisters,  they 
grew  as  green  as  grass  with  envy,  for  when  they  heard  where  she  dwelt,  and 
what  a  fine  castle  it  was,  all  built  of  pure  gold  and  silver,  and  what  a  hand- 
some prince  it  was  that  she  had  for  a  husband,  they  were  ready  to  burst 
with  spite,  for  each  felt  that  she  might  have  had  all  this  for  herself  if  the 
Raven  prince  had  only  chosen  her  instead  of  Golden-Hair.  So  when  the 
princess  had  told  them  all  about  what  had  happened,  they  only  nodded  and 
winked  at  one  another  as  though  they  did  not  believe  a  word  of  it. 

"  Yes,  yes,"  said  they, "  it  is  all  very  well  to  talk  about  your  handsome 
prince ;  but  why  did  he  not  come  along  with  you,  we  should  like  to  know  ?" 

The  princess  could  not  tell  them  that ;  but  she  could  bring  him  quickly 
enough  whenever  she  chose,  for  all  that  she  had  to  do  was  to  spread  her 
napkin  and  wish  and  he  would  be  there.  She  would  show  them  that  what 
she  had  said  was  true,  had  her  prince  not  forbidden  her. 

But  the  envious  sisters  only  jeered  and  laughed  as  though  all  that  the 
princess  said  was  the  best  jest  in  the  world. 

Now  one  can  bear  anything  better  than  laughter.  So  the  end  of  the 
matter  was  that  the  princess  spread  the  linen  napkin  on  the  floor  and 
wished  that  the  Raven  prince  might  be  with  them. 


oo 


(Branbmot^cr  jspinm'ngflar  toitlnn 


72       PRINCESS   GOLDEN-HAIR  AND  THE  GREAT   BLACK  RAVEN. 

No  sooner  had  she  wished  it  than  there  he  stood ;  but  he  looked  at  no 
one  but  her.  "  Did  I  not  tell  you  that  misfortune  would  come  of  it  if  you 
wished  for  me  ?"  said  he.  "  Now,  I  must  leave  you  and  go  where  you  are 
not  likely  ever  to  see  me  again." 

Then  the  princess  would  have  spoken,  but  he  gave  her  no  time  for  that. 
He  snatched  up  the  napkin,  and,  becoming  a  Raven  once  more,  he  flew 
through  the  open  window  and  across  the  tree-tops  and  was  gone.  At  the 
same  time  her  golden  coach  vanished,  and,  the  coachman  and  footmen  be- 
came so  many  birds  and  flew  away,  so  that  not  one  of  her  fine  things  was 
left. 

The  poor  princess  wept  and  cried  for  a  whole  day  and  a  whole  night. 
But  at  the  end  of  that  time  she  dried  her  eyes,  and,  tucking  up  her  skirts, 
started  off  into  the  wide  world  to  find  her  dear  prince  again. 

Well,  she  travelled  on  and  on  and  on  for  more  days  than  she  could 
count,  and  till  she  had  been  over  nearly  all  of  the  world,  but  in  all  that  time 
she  could  learn  no  news  of  the  prince  nor  of  whither  he  had  gone.  At  last 
one  day,  about  nightfall,  she  came  to  a  little  hut  in  a  deep  forest,  and  in  the 
hut  sat  an  old  woman  with  hair  as  white  as  snow. 

"  What  do  you  want,  child  ?"  said  the  old  woman ;  "  do  you  not  know 
that  this  is  Death's  house,  and  that  if  he  returns  and  finds  you  here  he  will 
kill  you  ?  I  tell  you  that  he  spares  neither  the  young  nor  the  old,  the  plain 
nor  the  handsome.  As  for  me,  I  am  his  grandmother." 

But  all  this  was  one  to  the  princess,  and  went  in  at  one  ear  and  out  of 
the  other ;  she  could  no  longer  drag  one  foot  after  the  other,  so  there  she 
must  stay  even  if  Death  should  find  her  when  he  came  home. 

Then  she  told  Death's  grandmother  all  that  had  happened  to  her,  and 
Death's  grandmother  took  pity  on  her  because  she  was  so  pretty  and  so 
tired.  She  gave  the  princess  something  to  eat  and  then  hid  her  in  the  tall 
clock  that  stood  in  the  corner,  so  that  Death  might  not  find  her  when  he 
came  home. 

By  and  by  in  came  Death  and  hung  up  his  great  scythe  behind  the  door. 
"  Hu-u-u-u  !"  cried  he,  "  I  smell  Christian  blood  in  the  house  for  sure." 

"  Christian  blood,  indeed  !"  said  his  grandmother,  "  as  though  a  Christian 
would  come  to  this  house  if  he  had  anywhere  else  to  go !  But  now  I 
think  of  it,  a  crow  flew  overhead  to-day,  and  dropped  a  bone  down  the 
chimney.  I  threw  it  out  as  soon  as  I  could,  but  perhaps  that  is  what  you 
smell." 


PRINCESS  GOLDEN-HAIR  AND  THE   GREAT   BLACK   RAVEN.       73 

So  Death  said  nothing  more,  but  sat  down  to  supper  and  ate  heartily, 
for  he  had  had  a  long  journey  that  day. 

"  See,"  said  his  grandmother,  "  I  had  a  dream  to-day.  A  princess  is  out 
in  the  world  hunting  for  her  Raven  sweetheart,  and  cannot  tell  where  to 
find  him." 

"  That  is  easy  enough  to  tell,"  said  Death ;  "  he  lives  in  a  great  castle 
that  stands  at  the  end  of  the  earth  on  a  high  hill  of  smooth  glass." 

"  That  is  good,"  said  Death's  grandmother,  "  but  I  dreamed  that  after 
she  found  where  he  lived,  she  was  too  weary  to  journey  thither." 

"  That  is  easy  enough,  too,"  said  Death ;  "  out  in  the  forest  yonder  stands 
my  pale  horse  tied  to  an  oak-tree.  If  she  could  only  find  the  horse  and 
loose  the  bridle  and  mount  his  back  he  would  take  her  there  quickly 
enough,  for  he  can  travel  more  rapidly  than  the  north  wind." 

"  Yes,  yes,  that  is  all  very  well,"  said  Death's  grandmother,  "  but  I  had  a 
third  dream ;  I  thought  that  when  she  came  to  the  smooth  hill  of  glass  she 
did  not  know  how  to  climb  to  the  top ;  what  is  the  answer  to  that  ?" 

"  Prut !"  said  Death,  "  that  is  easy  to  tell.  Over  by  the  glass  hill  are 
seven  birds  fighting  in  the  tree-top  for  an  old  hat.  If  she  will  throw  a  stone 
in  the  midst  of  them  they  will  drop  the  hat  and  fly  away.  It  is  Wish's  own 
hat,  and  if  she  will  put  it  on  her  head  and  wish  herself  at  the  top  of  the  hill, 
she  will  be  there  quickly  enough,  I  can  tell  you." 

After  that  Death  put  on  his  cloak  and  took  up  his  scythe  and  was  off 
like  a  whirlwind,  for  he  has  little  time  to  spare  for  talking,  folks  say.  Then 
Death's  grandmother  opened  the  clock,  and  the  princess  came  out  and 
thanked  her  and  went  her  way. 

She  hunted  here  and  there  through  the  forest  until,  sure  enough,  she 
found  Death's  great  pale  horse  tied  to  an  oak-tree.  She  loosened  the  bridle 
and  mounted  upon  his  back,  and  away  they  went  till  the  chips  and  the 
stones  flew  behind  them.  So  they  soon  came  to  the  high  hill  of  smooth 
glass  that  stood  at  the  end  of  the  earth,  and  there,  on  top  of  it,  was  the 
castle  of  the  prince. 

The  princess  dismounted  from  the  pale  horse,  and  away  he  galloped 
home  again. 

Then  the  princess  hunted  for  the  birds  that  Death  said  fought  for 
Wish's  hat,  and  presently  she  heard  them  making  a  great  hubbub,  and, 
looking  up,  saw  them  in  the  tree-top  above  her,  fighting  for  the  old  hat,  just 
as  Death  said  they  would  be  doing.  She  picked  up  a  stone  and  threw  it 
in  the  midst  of  them,  and  they  dropped  the  hat  and  flew  away  screaming. 


74       PRINCESS  GOLDEN-HAIR  AND  THE  GREAT  BLACK   RAVEN. 

Then  she  put  on  the  hat  and  wished  herself  at  the  top  of  the  hill,  and 
there  she  was  as  quick  as  a  wink. 

Now,  her  shoes  were  worn  into  holes  by  long  journeying,  and  her  clothes 
were  torn  to  threads  and  tatters  by  the  brambles  through  which  she  had 
passed,  and  hung  fluttering  all  about  her,  and  she  looked  for  all  the  world 
like  nothing  else  than  a  common  beggar-maid,  except  for  her  golden  hair. 
So  it  was  that  when  she  knocked  at  the  door  of  the  prince's  castle,  and  the 
porter  came  and  opened  it  and  heard  that  she  wanted  to  see  the  prince,  he 
snapped  his  fingers  and  laughed.  All  the  same  he  told  her  that  the  cook 
wanted  a  serving  wench  in  the  kitchen,  and  that  she  might  have  the  place 
if  she  liked ;  if  that  did  not  suit  her  she  might  be  jogging  the  way  that 
she  had  come. 

Well,  there  was  nothing  for  it  but  for  the  princess  to  serve  in  the  kitchen 
or  to  go  away  again.  So  she  bound  up  her  hair  in  a  tattered  kerchief  so 
that  the  beautiful  golden  tresses  might  not  be  seen,  and  down  she  went  to 
serve  the  cook. 

• 

The  prince's  dinner  was  cooking  at  the  fire,  and  the  princess  was  to 
watch  it  so  that  it  might  not  be  burned.  So  she  watched  it,  and  as  she 
watched  it  she  wept. 

"  Why  do  you  weep,  hussy?"  said  the  cook. 

"  Ah  me !"  said  the  princess,  "  once  I  ate  with  my  love  and  drank  with 
my  love  and  lived  by  his  side.  If  he  did  but  know  to  what  I  have  come 
how  his  heart  would  ache !" 

After  that  the  dinner  was  served,  but,  while  nobody  was  looking,  the 
princess  .plucked  a  strand  of  her  golden  hair  and  laid  it  upon  a  white  napkin 
and  the  napkin  upon  an  empty  plate.  Over  all  she  placed  a  silver  cover, 
and  when  the  Raven  prince  lifted  it  there  lay  the  strand  of  golden  hair. 
"  Where  did  this  come  from  ?"  said  he.  But  nobody  could  tell  him  that. 

The  next  day  the  same  thing  happened ;  the  princess  watched  the 
dinner,  and  as  she  watched  she  wept. 

"Why  do  you  weep,  hussy?"  said  the  cook.  And  thereto  the  princess 
answered  as  she  had  done  before :  "  Ah  me !  once  I  ate  with  my  love  and 
drank  with  my  love  and  lived  by  his  side.  If  he  did  but  know  to  what  I 
have  come,  how  his  heart  would  ache  !" 

Then,  while  nobody  was  looking,  she  plucked  another  strand  of  golden 
hair  and  the  prince  found  it  as  he  had  done  the  other,  and  no  one  could  tell 
him  whence  it  came. 

The  third  day  the  same  thing  happened  as  had  happened  twice  before : 


76       PRINCESS  GOLDEN-HAIR  AND  THE  GREAT   BLACK   RAVEN. 

the  princess  watched  and  wept,  and  when  nobody  was  looking  plucked  a 
third  strand  of  golden  hair  and  sent  it  to  the  prince  as  she  had  the  others. 

Then  the  prince  sent  for  the  cook.  "  Who  has  been  serving  this  and 
that  with  my  dinner?"  said  he. 

The  cook  shook  his  head,  for  he  knew  nothing,  but  perhaps  the  new 
serving  wench  could  tell,  for  she  wept  and  said  things  that  none  of  them 
understood.  When  the  prince  heard  this  he  sent  for  her,  and  the  princess 
came  and  stood  before  him.  He  looked  at  her  and  knew  her,  for  her 
golden  hair  shone  through  a  hole  in  the  ugly  head-dress  that  she  wore. 
Then  he  reached  out  his  hand  and  snatched  it  off  of  her  head,  and  her 
golden  hair  fell  down  all  about  her  shoulders  until  it  reached  the  floor. 
Then  he  took  her  in  his  arms  and  kissed  her,  and  that  was  the  end  of  all  of 
her  troubles. 

After  that  they  had  a  grand  time  at  the  castle ;  every  one  who  came  had 
all  that  he  could  eat,  and  wine  and  beer  flowed  like  water.  I,  too,  was  there, 
but  I  brought  nothing  away  with  me  in  my  pockets. 


w»"p      ^*  .^« 

clock 


Around  about, 

Around  about,  . 

old  played  and  in  and  out; 
He  peeped  in  every  Pot  and  Pail, 
And  grmned,and  pulled  the  Pussy  s  tail. 


Clear, 
pleasant. 


Big  clumsy(7refr£ett,wasng  up 

The  Breakfast-dishes, dropped  a  Cup ; 

It  fell  upon  t\teKobold's  Toe, 

And  made  him  hop  it  hurt  him  so. 


K.P. 

.del, 


."••VTvivrtr  ' 


GreatRedF 


CrandfatherMole 


VII. 


N  those  days  the  Great  Red  Fox  and  Cousin  Greylegs, 
the  wolf,  were  great  cronies,  and  whenever  you  would 
see  one  you  might  be  sure  the  other  was  not  far 
away.  The  Great  Red  Fox  was  a  master- hand  at 
roguery,  and  Cousin  Greylegs,  the  wolf,  came  close 
behind  him.  That  was  how  they  made  their  living. 

By  and  by  they  fell  out,  so  that  they  were  never 
good  friends  again,  and  this  was  how  it  happened. 
There  was  to  be  a  great  fair,  and  the  world  and  his  wife  and  the  little 
dog  behind  the  stove  were  to  be  there. 

"  We  will  go  too,"  says  the  pair  of  scamps ;  so  off  they  went. 
By  and  by  they  came  to  an  inn  where  the  windows  were  red  with  the 
good  things  cooking  in  the  kitchen — green  geese  and  ducks  and  chickens, 
and  sausages,  and  cabbage,  and  onions,  and  all  the  nice  things  you  can  think 
of.  But  the  two  rogues  had  no  money,  and  one  cannot  buy  something  with 
nothing  out  in  the  wide  world.  But  they  found  a  ladder  against  the  side  of 
the  wall,  and  climbed  up  into  the  loft  above  and  lay  in  the  hay. 

Dear,  dear,  how  nice  the  good  things  did  smell  down  in  the  kitchen ! 
"  My  goodness !"  says  Cousin  Greylegs, "  but  I  would  like  to  have  a  taste  of 
them." 

As  for  the  Great  Red  Fox,  he  had  been  nursing  his  wits  all  the  time, 
and  now  he  had  a  trick  hatched.  So  down  he  climbed  from  the  loft  the 


8o  COUSIN  GREYLEGS  AND  GRANDFATHER  MOLE. 

same  way  he  had  climbed  up ;  and  nobody  saw  him,  for  he  took  good  care 
of  that.  Over  he  went  to  the  stables  where  the  horses  stood  munching 
away  at  the  corn  in  the  mangers.  '  He  loosened  a  bridle  here  and  a  bridle 
there  until  not  one  of  the  nags  was  fastened  where  he  belonged ;  then  he 
slipped  back  into  the  loft  once  more.  By  and  by  began  the  kicking  and 
the  squealing  over  at  the  stable ;  out  ran  the  landlord  and  all  the  other 
folks  with  him,  and  not  a  soul  was  left  in  the  kitchen.  Then  brother 
Greylegs  and  the  Great  Red  Fox  came  down  and  helped  themselves,  and 
while  they  were  about  it  the  Great  Red  Fox  stuffed  a  fistful  of  hazel-nuts 
into  his  pocket. 

After  a  while  the  landlord  and  the  rest  of  them  came  from  the  stable ; 
but  nothing  was  left  for  them  of  the  good  things  but  the  leavings. 

As  for  Cousin  Greylegs  and  the  Great  Red  Fox,  why,  they  lay  up  in  the 
loft  among  the  straw,  and  ate  and  ate  until  they  could  eat  no  more. 

By  and  by  there  came  along  somebody  else  on  his  way  to  the  fair,  and 
it  was  a  rich  corn-factor  who  made  his  money  by  buying  corn  cheap,  and 
selling  it  dear  to  poor  folks,  so  that  he  was  as  great  a  rogue  as  the  two 
scamps  up  yonder  in  the  loft.  With  him  he  brought  a  whole  bag  of 
money ;  but  it  bought  him  no  supper  that  night,  for  all  the  good  things 
had  been  stolen,  and  the  corn-factor  had  to  be  contented  with  what  pick- 
ings he  could  get.  As  for  the  bag  of  money,  he  put  that  in  a  great  chest  in 
the  corner,  and  there  he  left  it  for  safe-keeping. 

Now  up  in  the  loft  where  the  two  rogues  lay  was  a  cowhide,  which  the 
landlord  used  for  making  straps  and  thongs  and  such  like  things.  What 
does  the  Great  Red  Fox  do  but  whip  out  his  needle  and  thread  and  sew 
the  cowhide  fast  to  Cousin  Greylegs'  Jacket,  though  Cousin  Greylegs  knew 
no  more  of  that  than  a  mouse  in  a  barrel.  Then  by  and  by  the  Great  Red 
Fox  was  up  to  another  of  his  tricks.  "  See,"  says  he,  "  here  I  have  a  pocket- 
ful of  hazel-nuts,  and  I  am  for  cracking  one." 

"  Tut,  tut,  brother,"  says  Cousin  Greylegs,  "  you  must  crack  no  nuts 
here." 

"  But  I  must  crack  a  nut,"  says  the  Great  Red  Fox. 

"But  you  must  not,"  says  Cousin  Greylegs. 

"  But  I  must,"  says  the  Great  Red  Fox,  and  so  he  did. 

"  Hark !"  says  the  landlord  ;  "  yonder  is  somebody  up  in  the  loft  crack- 
ing the  nuts  that  we  were  to  have  had  for  supper;  it  is  a  good  beating  he 
shall  have  for  the  trick  he  has  been  playing  upon  us." 

When  Cousin  Greylegs  heard  this  he  did  not  stop  to  tarry  or  to  think ; 


oa£in  (Breplegs 


c 


go  together  to  p 
fair. 


82  COUSIN  GREYLEGS  AND  GRANDFATHER  MOLE. 

down  he  jumped  from  the  loft,  and  away  he  scampered  as  fast  as  he  could 
lay  foot  to  the  ground ;  but  with  him  went  the  cowhide  which  the  Great 
Red  Fox  had  sewed  fast  to  his  jacket. 

"  Hi !"  bawled  the  landlord, "  there  is  the  thief  who  stole  our  supper,  and 
he  is  taking  my  cowhide  into  the  bargain." 

Off  they  all  scampered  after  Cousin  Greylegs  and  the  cowhide.  The 
corn-factor  first  of  all. 

As  for  Cousin  Greylegs,  why,  he  laid  down  to  the  running  as  though 
he  had  never  been  born  for  anything  else.  But  it  is  hard  work  running 
with  a  cowhide  flapping  about  one's  legs,  so  they  caught  him  just  over  the 
hill,  and  then,  dear,  dear,  what  a  drubbing  they  gave  him. 

But  as  soon  as  everybody  was  safe  away  after  Cousin  Greylegs  and  the 
cowhide,  the  Great  Red  Fox  came  down  from  the  loft,  and  marched  off 
with  the  corn-factor's  money  without  anybody  being  about  to  say  "  No  "  to 
him. 

Off  he  went  as  happy  as  a  cricket,  until  he  came  to  the  cross-roads  over 
the  hill  and  back  of  the  woods,  and  who  should  he  see  sitting  there  but 
Cousin  Greylegs  rubbing  the  places  that  smarted  the  most. 

"  Hi !"  says  the  Great  Red  Fox,  "  and  is  that  you,  Cousin  Greylegs  ? 
Why,  I  have  been  looking  up  and  down,  over  hill  and  over  hollow  for  you. 
Here  is  a  whole  bag  of  money  that  I  found  at  the  inn  over  yonder,  and  if  it 
wasn't  for  the  trick  that  I  played  you,  there  was  never  a  penny  of  it  that 
would  have  come  into  our  pockets." 

"  So !"  says  Cousin  Greylegs.  "  Well,  that  was  a  different  matter ;"  and 
he  swallowed  the  drubbing  he  had  had,  for  it  was  to  be  share  and  share 
alike  with  the  money,  and  that  was  a  salve  for  sore  bones.  So  off  they 
went  together  arm  in  arm. 

By  and  by  they  came  to  another  inn.  "  We'll  stop  here,"  says  Cousin 
Greylegs, "  and  have  another  bite  to  eat  before  we  go  any  farther."  And 
that  suited  the  Great  Red  Fox  well  enough,  so  in  they  went,  and  gave  the 
bag  of  money  into  the  landlord's  keeping,  and  Cousin  Greylegs  ordered  a 
supper  fit  for  a  lord. 

But  the  Great  Red  Fox  had  his  wits  about  him  all  this  time,  for  he  was 
not  one  to  be  caught  napping  when  the  sun  was  up.  "  Yes,  yes,"  says  he 
to  himself, "  Cousin  Greylegs  is  up  to  some  of  his  tricks,  sure  enough ;  we'll 
put  a  stopper  in  the  bottle  before  the  luck  has  dribbled  out."  So  while 
Cousin  Greylegs  was  pottering  about  in  the  kitchen  down-stairs,  seeing  that 
the  cooking  was  done  to  his  mind,  the  Great  Red  Fox  took  a  bag  like  the 


bag  full  of  t^  9  t\yaA  toi'ti)  ^tm. 


84  COUSIN  GREYLEGS  AND   GRANDFATHER  MOLE. 

one  they  brought  with  them,  and  filled  it  full  of  old  rusty  nails  and  bits  of 
iron.  Off  he  marched  with  it  to  the  landlord.  "  See,"  says  he,  "  Cousin 
Greylegs  will  come  asking  for  a  bag  by  and  by ;  here  it  is,  give  it  to  him 
and  he  will  be  satisfied." 

Sure  enough,  when  the  supper  was  over  and  the  Great  Red  Fox  was 
snoring  in  front  of  the  fire,  for  all  the  world  as  though  he  were  sound  asleep, 
off  packed  Cousin  Greylegs  to  the  landlord.  "  Look,"  says  he,  "  that  bag 
that  the  Great  Red  Fox  left  here,  just  hand  it  over  to  me,  will  you  ?  for  I 
must  be  jogging.  As  for  the  Great  Red  Fox,  you  may  let  him  have  his 
sleep  out." 

Yes,  that  was  all  right,  and  the  landlord  knew  nothing  about  the  tricks 
of  the  two  rogues,  so  he  handed  over  the  bag  of  rusty  nails  and  bits  of 
iron.  And  Cousin  Greylegs  never  once  thought  of  looking  to  see,  for  the 
bits  of  iron  jingled,  and  the  sound  was  enough  for  him,  for  that  is  the  way 
with  folks  out  in  the  world. 

As  for  the  Great  Red  Fox,  he  waited  until  Cousin  Greylegs  was  well 
away  on  his  own  business,  then  off  he  stepped  along -the  road  that  led  the 
other  way,  and  it  was  the  bag  of  gold  and  silver  money  he  carried  with 
him. 


But  that  is  not  all  of  the  story ;  for  listen :  There  was  a  poor  old  blind 
mole  who  lived  in  the  ground  because  he  had  nowhere  else  to  go,  and  that 
was  his  home.  But  the  Great  Red  Fox  thought  nothing  of  him.  On  he 
came — tramp !  tramp !  tramp ! — and  would  have  trodden  right  on  the  roof 
of  the  mole's  house.  "  Brother  Fox,"  cried  Grandfather  Mole, "  look  where 
you  are  treading,  or  you  will  have  the  roof  down  about  my  ears." 

"  Pooh  !"  says  the  Great  Red  Fox,  "  when  one  has  been  sharp  enough  to 
trick  such  a  keea  blade  as  Cousin  Greylegs,  one  is  not  going  to  step  out  of 
one's  way  for  a  little  gray  mole  as  blind  as  charity :"  and  so  he  was  for  go- 
ing straight  ahead. 

But  up  jumped  Grandfather  Mole  and  caught  hold  of  him,  and  then  he 
felt  the  bag  of  gold  and  silver  money  the  Great  Red  Fox  carried.  "  Hi !" 
says  he,  "  and  here  is  a  new  card  in  the  game."  So  he  held  on  to  the  Great 
Red  Fox  and  began  to  bawl  with  all  his  might  and  main,  "  Help,  good 
folks !  help !  here  is  the  Great  Red  Fox  stealing  my  bag  of  gold  and  silver 
money !" 

"  Hush !  hush !"  said  the  Great  Red  Fox,  for  he  was  for  having  as  little 


CBreaf  Kebf orrote 


said  about  the  bag  of  money  as  need  be,  "  let  me  go  and  I  will  promise  to 
tread  on  nobody's  house."  But  no,  it  was  easier  to  get  into  that  hole 
than  it  was  to  get  out  again,  for  Grandfather  Mole  held  on  and  bawled  for 
help  louder  than  ever.  "  Help !  help !  here  is  one  robbing  a  poor  blind 
mole  of  all  he  has  in  the  world !"  That  was  the  way  he  kept  up  the  song, 
and  he  made  such  a  hubbub  that  the  folks  came  running  and  hauled  them 
both  up  before  the  Master  Judge  to  see  what  he  had  to  say  about  the 
business. 

"  The  bag  of  money  is  mine,"  said  the  Great  Red  Fox. 

"Yes,  good!  but  where  did  you  get  it?"  says  the  judge,  and  that  was  a 
question  easier  asked  than  answered. 

"  See  now,"  says  Grandfather  Mole,  "  it  is  easy  enough  to  talk,  for 
breath  is  cheap  in  this  town,  but  the  thing  is  to  put  it  to  trial  and  find 


86  COUSIN  GREYLEGS  AND  GRANDFATHER  MOLE. 


r 


out  who  is  telling  the  truth.  We'll  build  a  fire  and  try  who  can  stand  it 
the  longest,  and  that  will  show  the  right  in  this  matter  as  clear  as  a  morning 
in  hay-season." 

Well,  that  suited  the  fox  well  enough,  "  for,"  says  he  to  -himself,  "  it  is  a 
pretty  business  if  I  can't  stand  a  scorching  as  long  as  an  old  blind  mole ;" 
and  so  that  business  was  settled. 

Out  they  all  went,  and  it  was  Grandfather  Mole  who  was  to  try  the 
burning  first  of  all.  So  they  fetched  sticks  and  twigs  and  covered  him  all 
over  with  them,  and  then  set  fire  to  them. 

Dear,  dear,  but  it  was  a  fine  blaze  that  went  up,  but  the  mole  had  his 
wits  about  him ;  for  as  soon  as  he  felt  the  heat  of  the  fire  he  began  digging 
down  into  the  ground  with  all  his  might  and  main,  so  that  not  a  spark 
touched  him. 

"  Do  you  burn,  Grandfather  Mole?"  says  the  Great  Red  Fox. 

"  No !"  bawled  Grandfather  Mole.  So  they  just  threw  on  another  arm- 
ful of  twigs. 

By  and  by  the  Great  Red  Fox  says  again :  "  Do  you  burn,  Grandfather 
Mole  ?"  for  he  thought  by  this  time  that  the  mole  must  be  as  scorched  as  an 
old  shoe  under  the  stove. 

But  Grandfather  Mole  was  ready  for  him.  "  No  ! 7"  he  bawled,  louder 
than  ever. 

Dear,  dear,  but  here  was  a  strange  happening ;  all  the  same,  the  Great 
Red  Fox  threw  on  wood  and  threw  on  wood,  until  the  blaze  went  up 
like  a  chimney  afire.  "And  now  do  you  burn,  Grandfather  Mole?" 
says  he. 

"  NO ! ! !"  bawled  Grandfather  Mole  until  you  might  have  thought  his 
throat  would  have  split  with  the  noise  he  made. 

So  they  let  the  fire  go  out,  and  up  came  Grandfather  Mole  out  of  the 
ground  looking  as  fresh  and  as  sharp  as  a  green  gooseberry. 

And  now  it  was  the  Great  Red  Fox's  turn ;  and  they  heaped  the  sticks 
and  twigs  over  him  as  they  had  done  over  Grandfather  Mole,  and  then  set 
fire  to  them. 

"  Do  you  burn  ?"  says  Grandfather  Mole  after  a  bit. 

"  NO  ! ! !"  bawled  the  Great  Red  Fox,  as  though  his  throat  was  made  of 
leather. 

So  they  threw  on  more  sticks  and,  twigs,  but  the  Great  Red  Fox  just 
shut  his  teeth  and  grinned,  for  he  was  bound  that  he  would  stand  as  much 
of  a  burning  as  an  old  blind  mole. 


dSrcatKeb  fox  bcaret^allt^at  fyecan. 


"  Do  you  burn  now?"  says  Grandfather  Mole. 

"  NO,"  says  the  Great  Red  Fox,  but  his  voice  was  as  small  as  peas  in 
March.  So  they  threw  on  another  armful  of  wood,  and  the  fire  grew  hotter 
and  hotter.  '  * 

"  And  do  you  burn  now  ?"  says  Grandfather  Mole. 

"  Thunder  and  lightning,  yes  !"  bawled  the  Great  Red  Fox,  and  out  he 
jumped  and  away  he  scampered,  smoking  like  a  charcoal  kiln. 

So  all  he  gained  by  his  roguery  was  a  burnt  skin  and  nothing  to  show 
for  it ;  and  that  has  happened  more  than  once  to  rogues  whose  wits  are  so 
sharp  that  they  cut  their  own  fingers  with  them. 


88  COUSIN  GREYLEGS  AND  GRANDFATHER   MOLE. 

Now  in  our  town  we  do  not  make  puddings  without  plums,  or  tell  a 
story  without  rhyme  or  reason,  but  if  you  wish  to  find  any  meaning  in  these 
words,  you  must  put  on  your  spectacles  and  look  for  it  for  yourself,  even 
though  the  tale  stands  all  legs  and  no  head,  as  the  man-in-the-moon  said 
about  his  grandmother's  tongs. 


Eight  Oclock 


^he Sun  m  the  Sky 
lls not  yet  high, 


warmer 


And  the  Grasses  are  wet  by  the/W . 
With  hop  and  jump, 

BTT      /  1    ft.  Ttflik 

yjieage  and  Mump , 

The  Children  are  going  to  School. 

K.P. 


K..P. 


One  Good  Turn 
Deserves  Another. 


VIII. 


NCE  upon  a  time  there  was  a  lad  who  was  a  fisher- 
man, and  every  morning  he  shouldered  his  net,  and 
went  down  to  the  river  to  catch  fish  to  sell  in  the 
town. 

One  morning  as  he  walked  beside  the  edge  of  the 
water,  he  came  upon  a  great  tall  stork  caught  in  a 
trap  that  had  been  set  for  the  water-rats. 

It  was  a  tender  heart  that  the  young  fisherman 
had  under  his  jacket,  so  when  he  saw  Father  Longlegs  in  such  a  pickle  he 
waded  out  into  the  water,  among  the  reeds  and  arrowheads  to  where  the 
other  was,  and  loosened  the  noose  from  about  his  leg. 

The  storks  bring  good-luck  to  folks  some  people  say,  and  that  was  what 
happened  to  the  young  fisherman. 

"  One  good  turn  deserves  another,"  says  Father  Longlegs ;  "  cross  your 
heart  three  times,  cast  your  net  jnto  the  water  yonder,  and  see  what  you 
catch."  So  the  lad  did  as  he  was  told,  and  when  he  drew  his  net  to  the 
shore,  there  was  just  one  fish  in  it. 

Yes ;  just  one  fish,  but  that  was  worth  the  catching,  I  can  tell  you,  for 
the  scales  were  all  of  pure  silver  and  gold,  so  that  it  glistened  like  the  moon 
on  smooth  ice,  and  it  was  most  wonderful  to  see. 

"  There,"  says  the  stork ;  "  and  now  if  you  have  your  wits  about  you,  it 
is  your  fortune  that  you  have  caught  out  of  the  water.  Take  the  fish  up 
to  the  king's  castle  and  show  it  to  nobody  but  the  king.  When  he  sees  it 


92  ONE  GOOD  TURN  DESERVES  ANOTHER. 

he  will  want  to  have  it  for  his  own  and  will  be  for  buying  it,  but  there  is 
only  one  price  you  must  ask  for  it,  and  that  is  to  have  the  princess  for  your 
wife."  That  was  what  the  stork  said,  and  then  he  spread  his  wings  and 
flew  away  over  the  house-tops. 

So  the  lad  wrapped  the  fish  up  in  a  clean  white  napkin  and  laid  it  in  a 
wicker  basket,  and  then  off  he  marched  to  the  king's  castle  to  try  his  luck 
there,  as  the  stork  had  said. 

Rap  !  tap  !  tap  !  he  knocked  at  the  door. 

Well,  and  what  did  he  want  ? 

Oh,  he  had  brought  a  fish  that  he  had  caught  over  at  the  river  yonder, 
but  he  would  show  it  to  nobody  but  the  king  himself. 

No,  it  did  no  good  for  them  to  ask  and  to  question  and  to  talk ;  what 
he  had  said  he  had  said.  So  at  last  they  had  to  take  him  up-stairs,  and 
there  was  the  king  sitting  upon  a  golden  throne  with  a  golden  crown  upon 
his  head  and  a  golden  sceptre  in  his  hand. 

"  Well,  and  why  do  you  wish  to  see  me?"     That  was  what  the  king  said. 

It  was  no  word  that  the  lad  spoke  with  his  tongue,  but  he  just  unfolded 
the  napkin,  and  showed  the  king  what  he  had  brought  in  the  wicker  basket. 

When  the  king  saw  the  gold-and-silver  fish,  he  thought  he  had  never 
seen  anything  so  wonderful  in  all  of  his  life  before.  Then  it  was  just  as 
the  stork  had  said.  He  must  and  would  have  the  fish,  no  matter  what  it 
cost ;  and  what  would  the  lad  take  for  it  ? 

Why,  the  body  over  at  the  river  yonder,  who  had  put  the  lad  up  to 
catching  the  fish,  had  told  him  that  there  was  only  one  price  to  be  asked 
for  it.  Now,  if  the  king  would  let  him  have  the  princess  for  his  wife,  he 
might  have  the  fish  and  welcome ;  for  that  was  the  price,  and  the  long  and 
the  short  of  it. 

Well,  the  king  hemmed  and  hawed,  but  he  did  not  speak  the  little  word 
"  no ;"  and  after  a  while  he  said  he  would  send  for  the  princess,  and  see 
what  she  had  to  say  about  it.  So  the  princess  came,  and  she  was  a  beauty 
I  can  tell  you,  for  the  very  sight  of  her  was  enough  to  make  one's  heart 
melt  inside  of  one,  like  a  lump  of  butter  in  the  oven.  And  as  for  the  wits 
of  her,  why,  she  was  just  as  smart  as  she  was  pretty  (which  is  saying  much 
and  a  little  over),  and  that  is  why  the  king  had  sent  for  her,  for  he  wanted 
to  get  the  gold-and-silver  fish  without  paying  the  price  fo*r  it. 

"  Yes,"  says  the  princess  when  the  king  had  told  her  all.  "  I  am  ready 
enough  to  marry  the  lad,  only  he  must  promise  to  do  one  thing  first." 

Dear,  dear,  how  the  lad's  heart  jumped  inside  of  him  at  that.     He  was 


artjerHUngleg£,  ffye  ferf  orfc, 

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94 


ONE  GOOD  TURN  DESERVES  ANOTHER. 


willing  enough  to  promise  whatever  was  asked,  for  he  would  do  anything  to 
marry  the  princess,  now  that  he  had  seen  how  pretty  she  was. 

"  Very  well,  then,"  said  the  princess,  "  just  bring  me  the  key  of  wish- 
house  and  I  will  marry  you." 

"  There,"  said  the  king,  "  that  is  a  bargain  ;  go  and  bring  the  key  of 
wish-house  and  you  shall  marry  the  princess ;  and  you  may  just  leave  the 
fish  here  until  you  come  back  again.  And  don't  show  your  face  about  here 
without  the  key,  if  you  wish  to  keep  your  head  upon  your  shoulders." 

So  off  went  the  lad  from  the  king's  castle,  with  nothing  at  all  in  his 
pocket  and  ill-luck  astride  of  his  back.  Down  he  went  to  the  river  as 
straight  as  he  could  walk,  and  there  stood  Father  Stork  gazing  down  into 
the  water  and  looking  as  wise  as  our  minister  on  Sunday.  « See  now,  thus 
and  so  and  thus  and  so  had  happened,  and  the  stork  had  gotten  him  into  a 
pretty  scrape  over  at  the  castle  by  putting  him  up  to  asking  such  a  price 
for  his  herring ;  that  was  what  the  lad  said. 

"  Prut !"  says  the  stork,  "  break  no  bones  over  that  furrow ;  ill-luck  al- 
ways comes  before  good -luck,  and  rain  before  the  little  flowers;  what  is 
worth  having  is  worth  working  for.  Just  get  upon  my  back  and  I  will 
carry  you  to  where  the  queen  of  the  birds  lives ;  if  anybody  can  put  you  in 
the  way  of  finding  the  key  of  wish-house  she  will  be  the  one."  So  the  stork 
bent  his  red  legs  and  up  the  lad  got  upon  his  back.  Then  Father  Long- 
legs  spread  his  wings  and  away  he  flew,  and  on  and  on,  over  field  and 
fallow,  over  valley  and  mountain,  over  forest  and  over  stream. 

After  they  had  gone  so  far  that  the  lad  thought  the  end  of  the  world 
could  not  be  a  great  way  off,  they  came  to  a  grand  house,  all  built  of  red 
brick,  that  stood  on  a  high  hill,  and  that  was  where  the  queen  of  the  birds 
lived.  The  stork  flew  straight  to  the  house,  and  there  was  the  queen  of  the 
birds  walking  in  the  garden. 

The  stork  told  everything  from  first  to  last,  and  that  now  what  they 
wanted  to  know  was,  whether  the  queen  of  the  birds  could  tell  them  where 
the  key  of  wish-house  was  to  be  found. 

No,  the  queen  did  not  know  that  herself,  but  she  would  call  all  of  the 
birds  of  the  heavens  and  of  the  earth,  and  perhaps  there  would  be  some  one 
among  them  that  could  tell. 

A  little  silver  whistle  hung  about  her  neck ;  she  put  it  to  her  lips  and 
blew  upon  it  so  shrilly  that  it  made  a  body's  ear  ring  to  listen  to  it,  and  the 
birds  of  the  heavens  and  of  the  earth  came  flying  from  far  and  near  until 
the  air  was  as  full  of  them  as  a  sunbeam  is  full  of  motes  on  sweeping-day. 


ONE  GOOD  TURN   DESERVES  ANOTHER.  95 

The  queen  of  the  birds  asked  them  one  and  all,  from  torn-tit  to  the  wild 
swan,  if  they  could  tell  where  the  key  of  wish-house  was  to  be  found ;  but 
not  a  single  one  of  them  knew. 

After  all  the  rest  had  spoken  there  came  flying  an  old  eagle,  so  old 
that  he  was  as  grey  as  the  ashes  upon  the  hearth,  and  he  was  six  times  as 
big  as  any  of  the  rest.  He  had  come  from  the  other  end  of  nowhere,  and 
that  is  a  long  way  off,  as  even  simple  Jack  can  tell  you ;  that  was  what  had 
kept  him  such  a  time  in  the  coming. 

And  was  it  the  key  of  wish-house  that  they  were  talking  about?  Oh, 
yes;  the  old  eagle  knew  where  the  key  of  wish-house  was  as  well  as  he 
knew  his  bread-and-butter,  for  the  old  Grey  Master  that  lives  on  the  iron 
mountain  had  it  hanging  back  of  the  kitchen  door,  and  the  eagle  had  seen 
it  there  more  than  once. 

"  Very  well,"  says  the  queen  of  the  birds ;  "  then  here  is  a  lad  who  has 
come  out  into  the  world  hunting  for  that  key,  a  good-hearted  fellow  who 
helped  Father  Stork  out  of  a  tight  place  over  at  the  river  yonder,  where  he 
had  been  caught  in  a  trap  set  for  the  water-rats.  Now  can  you  not  help 
him  to  find  what  he  wants  ?" 

Well,  the  old  eagle  did  not  say  no,  for  one  good  turn  deserves  another ; 
so  he  took  the  lad  on  his  back  at  the  root  of  his  wings  and  away  he 
flew. 

One  would  have  thought  that  the  red-legged  stork  had  flown  far,  but  it 
was  nothing  at  all  to  the  journey  that  the  eagle  took.  On  and  on  he  flew 
for  such  a  long  way  that  I,  for  one,  could  never  find  words  to  tell  you  how 
far  away  it  was. 

All  the  same,  every  journey  must  have  an  ending.  And  at  last  they 
came  to  a  great  iron  mountain  the  sides  of  which  were  as  smooth  as  the 
face  of  a  looking-glass ;  so  it  was  a  good  thing  for  the  lad  that  he  had  a 
great  grey  eagle  to  carry  him  up  to  the  top,  and  that  is  the  truth. 

There  on  the  top  of  the  mountain  lay  a  green  meadow,  so  wide  that  the 
eye  could  not  see  to  the  other  end  of  it.  And  in  the  middle  of  the  meadow 
stood  a  tall  castle ;  that  was  where  the  Grey  Master  lived  who  kept  the  key 
of  wish-house  back  of  the  kitchen  door. 

"  This  is  all  the  farther  I  can  carry  you  just  now,"  says  the  eagle ;  "  but 
here  is  a  feather,  when  you  are  ready  to  come  away  just  throw  it  up  into 
the  air,  and  I  will  not  be  long  in  coming." 

The  lad  thanked  the  eagle  for  the  help  he  had  had,  and  then  he  put  the 
feather  in  the  lining  of  his  hat. 


g6  ONE  GOOD  TURN   DESERVES  ANOTHER. 

After  that  the  eagle  went  one  way  and  the  lad  went  the  other,  and  that 
was  towards  the  castle  where  the  Grey  Master  lived. 

Off  he  stepped  right  foot  foremost,  and  by  and  by  he  came  to  a  little 
stream  of  water  that  ran  along  through  the  meadow.  But  just  in  the  mid- 
dle of  the  brook  lay  a  great  stone,  that  choked  the  stream  so  that  it  could 
hardly  crawl  around  it. 

"  Here  is  a  body  in  trouble  as  well  as  myself,"  said  the  lad,  and  he 
stooped  and  rolled  away  the  great  round  stone  so  that  the  brook  might 
flow  smoothly  and  freely. 

"  One  good  turn  deserves  another,"  said  the  brook.  "  Look  in  the  place 
where  the  great  round  stone  lay  and  you  will  find  a  little  red  pebble ;  so 
long  as  you  keep  that  pebble  in  your  mouth  you  will  be  as  strong  as  ten 
common  men." 

Well,  the  lad  hunted  until  he  found  the  pebble,  and  then  he  thanked 
the  brook  and  jogged  along  the  way  he  was  going. 

By  and  by  he  came  to  an  apple-tree,  and  it  was  so  loaded  down  with 
apples  that  the  branches  were  bent  to  the  very  ground. 

"  Here  is  another  body  weighed  down  by  the  cares  of  the  world,"  said 
the  lad.  So  he  .shook  some  of  the  apples  off  and  cut  props  to  put  under 
the  branches,  that  they  might  not  be  broken  by  the  load. 

"  One  good  turn  deserves  another,"  said  the  apple-tree.  "  Look  under 
my  roots  and  you  will  find  a  golden  apple ;  while  you  keep  that  in  your 
bosom  neither  fire  nor  water  can  harm  you,  for  it  is  an  apple  from  the 
tree  of  life." 

Well,  the  lad  found  the  apple  under  the  roots  of  the  tree,  and  then  he 
said  "  thank  you,"  and  went  on  his  way. 

By  and  by  he  came  to  a  place  where  he  heard  a  great  hubbub  over 
the  hedge ;  he  looked  and  there  he  saw  that  it  was  a  black  cock  and  a 
red  cock  fighting  for  dear  life,  and  the  red  cock  was  having  the  worst  of 
it,  for  it  was  nearly  dead  already. 

"  Here  is  another  who  is  having  the  worst  of  the  fight,"  said  the  lad. 
and  he  jumped  over  the  hedge,  and  drove  away  the  black  cock  with  the 
staff  he  held  in  his  hand. 

"  One  good  turn  deserves  another,"  said  the  red  cock.  "  I  know  what 
you  have  come  hither  to  find,  and  I  will  give  you  a  bit  of  advice  that 
will  be  worth  the  having.  When  the  Grey  Master  asks  you  what  you 
want,  tell  him  it  is  to  watch  his  black  cattle  for  one  night.  If  you  do 
that  he  must  give  you  whatsoever  you  ask  for.  And  listen ;  this  is  what 


cometlj  to% 


98  ONE  GOOD  TURN  DESERVES  ANOTHER. 

you  must  do  to  watch  the  cattle.  When  you  open  the  stable  door  there 
will  come  out  three-and-twenty  black  cows,  and  after  them  a  black  bull 
breathing  fire  and  smoke.  Him  you  must  catch  by  the  horns  and  must 
hold  him  fast  until  the  cock  crows  in  the  morning.  But  you  must  have 
the  strength  of  ten  men  to  do  that." 

Well,  the  lad  thanked  the  cock  for  the  advice  he  had  given,  and  then 
he  went  on  his  way  and  up  to  the  castle  where  the  Grey  Master  lived. 

He  knocked  at  the  door,  and  it  was  the  Grey  Master  himself  who  came 
and  opened  it.  He  was  a  head  and  shoulders  taller  than  other  men,  was 
the  Grey  Master,  and  he  had  but  one  eye,  which  gleamed  and  glistened 
like  the  dog-star  in  January.  Beside  him  flew  two  black  ravens  with  eyes 
as  red  as  coals  of  fire. 

"  And  what  is  it  that  you  want  ?"  said  the  Grey  Master. 

"  Oh !"  said  the  lad,  "  I  have  come  from  over  in  the  brown  world  yon- 
der, and  I  want  to  watch  your  black  cattle  for  one  night,  that  is  all  I  am 
after." 

When  the  Grey  Master  heard  what  the  lad  said,  he  frowned  until  his 
one  eye  shone  like  lightning.  "  Very  well,"  said  he,  "  you  shall  have  a 
chance  and  a  try  at  what  you  want,  but  if  you  fail  your  head  shall  be  cut  off 
and  hung  up  over  the  gate  yonder." 

"  That  is  not  so  pleasant  to  think  of,"  said  the  lad ;  "  all  the  same,  I  will 
have  a  try  and  see  what  I  can  do."  So  in  he  came,  and  he  and  the  Grey 
Master  sat  down  to  supper  together. 

By  and  by,  when  the  lad  had  eaten  all  that  he  wanted  the  Grey  Master 
told  him  it  was  time  to  go  about  the  business  he  had  come  for.  So  off 
went  the  lad  to  the  stable  where  the  four-and-twenty  black  cattle  stood  all 
in  a  row.  He  opened  the  door,  and  out  they  ran  helter-skelter  and  as  fast 
as  they  could  push,  and — whisk !  pop ! — soon  as  they  came  out  of  the  door 
each  cow  changed  into  a  black  crow  and  flew  around  and  around  the  lad's 
head  as  though  it  would  beat  his  eyes  out.  Last  of  all  came  the  black 
bull,  and  the  lad  was  ready  and  waiting  for  him. 

He  clapped  the  red  pebble  into  his  mouth,  and  then  he  was  as  strong  as 
ten  common  men.  He  caught  the  bull  by  the  horns,  and  it  might  puff  out 
fire  and  smoke,  as  it  chose,  for  it  could  do  him  no  harm  because  of  the  apple 
of  life  which  he  carried  in  his  bosom. 

How  the  bull  did  pitch  and  toss,  and  bellow  and  roar,  to  be  sure,  but 
it  was  all  for  no  use,  the  lad  held  on  like  hunger,  until  by  and  by  the  bull 
stopped  struggling  and  stood  as  quiet  as  a  lamb.  But  the  lad  held  fast  to 


ONE  GOOD  TURN   DESERVES  ANOTHER. 


99 


the  bull's  horns,  and  all  the  time  the  black  crows  flew  about  his  head,  but 
never  once  so  much  as  touched  him. 

At  last  a  cock  crew,  and  then  they  all  changed  again  into  cows,  and  the 
lad  drove  them  back  into  the  stable  once  more,  and  there  they  were. 

By  and  by  came  the  Grey  Master.  "  Well,"  said  he,  "  and  did  you 
watch  the  black  cattle?" 

Oh,  yes,  the  lad  had  watched  them,  and  it  was  no  such  hard  task  to  do ; 
there  they  were  in  the  stable  yonder,  safe  and  sound. 

Then  you  should  have  seen  what  a  sour  face  the  Master  pulled  over  the 
business !  All  the  same,  he  had  to  pay  the  lad ;  so  what  did  he  want  for 
his  wages? 

"  Oh  !"  said  the  lad,  "  it  is  little  that  I  want.  If  you  will  let  me  have  the 
key  that  hangs  back  of  the  kitchen  door  I  will  be  satisfied."  So  the  Grey 
Master  had  to  go  and  get  it  for  him,  though  he  would  rather  have  given 
him  one  of  his  eye-teeth. 

Off  marched  the  lad  with  what  he  had  come  for,  and  that  is  more  than 
most  of  us  get.  But  the  Grey  Master  was  not  for  letting  him  off  so  easy  as 
all  that,  I  can  tell  you,  for  the  more  he  thought  over  the  business  the  less  he 
liked  to  give  up  the  key  of  wish-house. 

So  after  a  while  he  took  down  the  Sword  of  Sharpness  which  hung 
against  the  wall,  slipped  his  feet  into  the  Shoes  of  Speed  that  stood  in  the 
corner,  took  a  peep  into  the  Book  of  Knowledge  which  lay  upon  the  shelf, 
to  see  which  way  the  lad  had  gone,  and  then  set  off  after  him  hot-foot,  to 
get  back  what  he  had  given  away. 

Just  as  the  lad  got  to  where  the  apple-tree  stood  he  looked  over  his 
shoulder,  and  there  he  saw  the  Grey  Master  coming  over  the  hills. 

"  And  where  shall  I  go  -now,"  says  he. 

"One  good  turn  deserves  another,"  said  the  apple-tree;  "just  come 
under  my  branches." 

The  lad  did  as  he  was  told,  and  the  apple-tree  drooped  its  branches 
about  him,  until  one  could  see  neither  hide  nor  hair  of  him. 

By  and  by  up  came  the  Grey  Master  purring  and  blowing.  "Apple- 
tree,"  says  he,  "  did  you  see  the  fisher-lad  come  by  this  way?" 

No,  the  apple-tree  had  seen  nobody  go  past  that  place.  So  back  went 
the  Master  home  again  to  have  another  look  into  his  Book  of  Knowledge. 
There  he  saw  as  clear  as  day  what  sort  of  trick  had  been  played  upon  him. 
Off  he  started  again  after  the  lad  at  such  a  rate  that  the  ground  smoked 
under  his  feet. 


I0o  ONE   GOOD  TURN   DESERVES  ANOTHER. 

But  the  lad  had  lost  no  time  either,  so  that  when  he  looked  over  his 
shoulder  and  saw  the  Grey  Master  coming  across  the  hills  behind  him,  he 
had  gone  as  far  as  the  brook. 

"  One  good  turn  deserves  another,"  said  the  brook,  and  it  made  itself 
small  and  smaller,  so  that  the  lad  stepped  over  without  wetting  so  much  as 
the  sole  of  his  foot.  Then  it  spread  itself  out  again  three  times  as  broad  as 
before.  Presently  up  came  the  Master,  fuming  like  a  pot  on  the  fire. 

"  Brook,"  says  he,  "  did  you  see  the  fisher-lad  go  by  this  way?" 

"  Yes,"  said  the  brook ;  "  there  he  is  just  on  the  other  side."  And  there 
he  was  sure  enough. 

The  Grey  Master  never  stopped  to  take  off  his  shoes  and  stockings, 
but  into  the  water  he  splashed  as  fast  as  he  could  go.  Just  as  he  reached 
the  middle  of  the  stream  the  brook  began  to  swell,  and  grew  large  and 
larger  until  it  carried  away  the  Grey  Master  like  a  cork  in  the  gutter,  and 
there  was  an  end  of  him. 

After  that  the  lad  went  on  without  hurrying  any  more  than  he  chose, 
until  he  came  to  the  side  of  the  mountain.  He  took  the  eagle's  feather 
from  out  his  cap  and  threw  it  up  in  the  air,  and  there  was  the  eagle  before 
he  had  time  to  grow  tired  of  waiting. 

He  sat  him  upon  the  eagle's  back,  and  away  they  flew,  and  on  and  on 
without  stopping  until  they  came  to  the  house  where  the  queen  of  the 
birds  lived.  There  was  Father  Longlegs  (the  stork)  waiting  for  them. 
He  took  his  turn  of  carrying  the  lad,  and  when  they  stopped  it  was  just 
over  beyond  the  king's  castle. 

But  the  lad  had  been  out  into 'the  world,  and  had  learned  a  thing  or 
two. 

"  See  now."  says  he,  "  it  was  hasty  cooking  that  burned  the  broth ;" 
and  so  he  \vould  not  go  up  to  the  castle  with  his  key  of  wish-house  without 
first  trying  what  door  he  could  unlock  with  it  himself.  He  took  it  out  of 
his  pocket  and  struck  it  a  rap  or  two  upon  the  ground. 

"  I  should  like,"  says  he,  "  to  have  golden  clothes  upon  my  back,  and 
to  have  a  golden  horse  and  a  golden  greyhound  that  shall  chase  a  golden 
hare."  That  was  what  he  said,  and  he  did  not  have  to  say  it  twice ;  for 
before  he  could  wink  there  they  were  standing  beside  him  just  as  he 
wanted.  He  leaped  upon  his  horse  and  away  he  rode  after  the  greyhound 
and  the  golden  hare. 

How  the  people  in  the  castle  did  stare  when  they  saw  him  riding  past ! 
The  princess  herself  ran  to  the  window  to  see  the  fine  sight,  and  as  for  the 


ijr  (Brep  S^ajsrfer  te  caught 

tntl)e0toam  anb  t£#toept  atoap,butp 
Ijibtr  )Lab  crosses  t't  brp^; 


102  ONE  GOOD  TURN   DESERVES  ANOTHER. 

king,  he  sent  six  of  his  knights  posting  after  the  fisher-lad,  for  he  thought 
that  it  was  some  great  lord  who  had  come  into  those  parts. 

By  and  by  the  lad  came  to  a  thicket,  and  there  he  jumped  off  of  his 
horse  and  rapped  upon  the  ground  with  his  key. 

"  I  wish  to  be  as  I  was  before,"  says  he,  and  then  he  was  the  poor 
fisher-lad  and  nothing  else.  As  for  the  golden  clothes,  the  golden  horse, 
the  golden  greyhound,  and  the  golden  hare,  they  went  back  to  Nomans- 
land  whither  they  had  come ;  and  when  the  king's  people  came  riding  up 
there  was  nobody  but  a  lad  in  rags  and  tatters  whistling  into  a  key. 

They  hunted  up  and  they  hunted  down,  but  they  could  find  neither 
sign  nor  trace  of  the  golden  rider  and  the  golden  horse.  So  after  a  while 
they  had  to  ride  back  to  the  castle  without  them. 

"  You  should  have  brought  the  lad  who  blew  upon  the  key,"  said  the 
princess. 

The  next  day  the  lad  rapped  upon  the  ground  with  his  key  again. 

"  I  should  like  to  have,"  says  he,  "  a  golden  coach  drawn  by  six  milk- 
white  horses,  with  coachman  and  footman  and  out-riders  dressed  in  clothes 
of  gold  and  silver." 

That  was  what  he  said ;  and  there  they  were  just  as  he  wanted.  Into 
the  coach  he  got,  and  off  he  rode  down  by  the  king's  castle. 

Dear,  dear,  how  the  folks  did  stare,  to  be  sure !  This  time  the  king 
sent  twelve  knights  after  the  golden  coach,  for  he  thought  it  must  be  a 
king  or  a  prince  for  certain  who  rode  by  in  such  style. 

Pretty  soon  the  lad  came  to  a  woods,  and  there  he  jumped  out  of  the 
coach  and  rapped  upon  the  ground  with  his  key. 

"  I  want  to  be  just  as  I  was  before,"  says  he  ;  and,  sure  enough,  he  was. 

Up  clattered  the  twelve  knights  on  their  horses,  and  there  sat  the  lad 
in  rags  and  tatters  whistling  upon  his  key. 

The  twelve  knights  hunted  high  and  hunted  low,  and  not  another 
soul  could  they  find,  and  so  they  had  to  ride  back  to  the  castle  again. 

"  See  now,"  said  the  princess,  "  did  I  not  say  that  you  should  have 
brought  the  lad  who  blew  upon  the  key?" 

The  next  day  the  lad  went  out  and  rapped  upon  the  ground  for  the 
third  time. 

"  I  should  like,"  said  he,  "  to  have  a  splendid  castle  all  built  of  silver 
and  gold,  such  as  nobody  ever  saw  before." 

That  was  what  he  said,  and  before  the  words  had  left  his  tongue  just 
such  a  great  castle  grew  up  out  of  nothing  like  a  soap-bubble. 


Haft  tortt)  t1)t  kpof  Itutfris  ^ou«. 


IO4 


ONE  GOOD  TURN   DESERVES   ANOTHER. 


The  king  chanced  to  look  out  of  the  window  just  then,  and  there  was 
the  great  splendid  gold-and-silver  castle.  He  took  off  his  spectacles  and 
rubbed  them  and  rubbed  them,  but  there  was  the  castle  just  the  same  as 
ever. 

He  bade  them  saddle  the  horses,  and  he  and  the  princess,  and  all  of 
the  court  besides,  rode  away  to  find  out  who  it  was  that  had  built  such 
a  fine  castle  all  in  one  night. 

But  the  lad  saw  them  coming,  and  rapped  upon  the  ground  with  his 
key.  "  I  should  like,"  said  he,  "  for  things  to  be  just  as  they  were  before  ;" 
and  puff !  away  went  the  castle  like  the  light  of  a  candle  when  one  blows 
it  out. 

Up  came  the  king  and  the  princess  and  all  the  court,  and  not  a  speck 
of  the  grand  castle  could  they  find,  but  only  a  lad  in  rags  and  tatters  who 
sat  upon  a  great  round  stone  and  whistled  upon  a  key. 

But  the  princess  was  a  lass  who  could  see  through  a  millstone  with 
a  hole  in  it.  So  soon  as  she  set  eyes  upon  him  she  knew  the  whole  busi- 
ness from  beginning  to  end.  Up  she  marched  to  him,  before  them  all, 
and  took  him  by  the  hand.  "  Now  I  will  marry  you,"  said  she, "  for  I  see 
that  you  have  brought  the  key  of  wish-house  with  you  ;"  and  there  she 
was  as  wise  as  ever.  For  there  be  many  kings  and  princes  in  the  world, 
but  I  have  never  yet  heard  of  any  one  except  the  fisher-lad  who  had  the 
key  of  wish-house.  Have  you  ? 


Nine  O  clock 


Ihe  School-bell  rings ; 

The  Children  all 
Must  answer  to       Cloudy 

The  Masters  call. 


warm. 


He  makes  them  stand 


And  walk  by  Rule, 


And  bow  before 


They  leave  the  School. 


The  Master  has 
A  crooked  AW; 

He  whips  the  Boys , 
And  puffs ,  and  blows ; 


The  White  Bird. 


IX. 


NCE  there  was  a  king,  who,  as  time  went  oil,  found 
himself  waxing  old  in  years  and  feeble  in  body,  so  he 
began  to  think  of  giving  up  the  cares  of  government 
and  of  taking  his  ease  for  as  much  of  life  as  was  left 
him.  But  here  was  the  trouble :  there  were  three 
princes,  and  each  one  of  them  was  just  as  clever  as 
the  other  two,  so  that  the  old  king  could  not  tell 
which  to  choose  as  the  right  one  to  sit  in  his  place. 

He  thought  and  thought  and  thought,  until  at  last  he  plucked  an  apple 
off  of  his  thinking-tree,  as  folks  say.  All  three  of  the  princes  should  go 
out  into  the  world,  and  whichever  of  them  should  fetch  back  an  apple 
from  the 'Tree  of  Happiness  should  rule  over  all  of  the  kingdom.  And  I 
speak  the  truth  when  I  say  that  the  apple  was  cheap  enough  even  at  that 
price. 

,  So  off  went  the  three  to  seek  for  what  they  wanted.  They  travelled 
along  without  let  or  stay  until  towards  evening  they  came  to  a  place  where 
two  houses  stood,  the  one  on  the  one  side  of  the  road  and  the  other  on  the 
other. 

One  of  them  was  as  fine  a  house  as  a  body  ever  saw.  Every  window 
was  lit  up  by  the  warm  fires  and  the  bright  lights  within,  and  even  out  on 
the  high-road  one  could  hear  the  merry  times  the  folks  were  having ;  laugh- 
ing and  singing  and  clinking  their  glasses  together.  As  for  the  good  things 
cooking  in  the  kitchen,  why  it  was  enough  to  make  one  hungry  just  to 


108  THE  WHITE   BIRD. 

smell  the  steam  of  them.     Over  the  door  was  a  sign,  and  on  the  sign  was 
written, 

"  WHO   ENTERS   HERE   SHALL   HAVE   WHAT 
HE   LIKES   AND   PAY   NOTHING   FOR   IT." 

The  other  house  was  a  poor,  mean,  little,  tumble-down  hut,  as  silent 
as  death,  and  with  never  a  spark  of  light  or  fire  shining  at  the  windows. 
There  was  also  a  sign  over  the  door,  and  on  the  sign  was  written, 

"  WHO   ENTERS   HERE   SHALL   HAVE   WHAT   HE 
NEEDS  AND   PAY  WHAT  HE  CAN." 

"  Yonder  is  the  place  for  us,"  said  the  older  brothers,  and  they  pointed 
with  their  thumbs  to  the  grand  house,  where  there  was  good  company  with 
plenty  to  eat'  and  drink  and  nothing  to  pay. 

"  Yes,"  says  the  youngest  of  the  three,  "  that  is  all  very  well,  but  I  would 
rather  pay  for  what  I  need  than  get  what  Ilike  for  nothing." 

Dear,  dear,  how  the  two  did  laugh  at  the  one  to  be  sure !  but  all  the 
same,  the  one  held  to  what  he  had  said,  and  so  at  last  the  two  flew  into  a 
huff.  "  Go  your  way,"  said  they,  "  and  we  will  go  ours."  And  into  the 
grand  house  they  went.  There  they  gave  themselves  up  to  ease  and 
comfort,  and  it  was  a  merry  time  they  had  of  it,  I  can  tell  you. 

But  the  youngest  brother  went  over  to  the  little  dark  house  and 
knocked  upon  the  door,  and  it  was  opened  by  a  poor  old  man  whose 
head  and  beard  were  as  white  as  the  snow,  and  whose  clothes  hung  about 
him  all  in  tags  and  tatters. 

"  Come  in  and  welcome,"  said  he,  "  for  you  are  the  first  who  has  been 
here  for  twenty-seven  ages;"  and  that  is  a  long  time,  as  anybody  knows 
without  the  telling. 

But  in  the  little  house  there  was  no  wood  to  make  a  fire,  and  there  was 
no  water  to  boil  in  the  pot.  So  the  prince  took  the  axe  and  went  out  and 
chopped  an  armful  of  wood,  and  then  he  took  the  pot  and  filled  it  at  the  well. 

Out  in  the  stable  stood  a  white  cow  with  silver  horns ;  but  there  was 
never  a  straw  for  it  to  lie  upon,  and  never  a  bit  of  hay  for  it  to  eat.  So  the 
prince  shook  down  a  bed  for  it,  and  then  he  filled  the  rack  with  hay  and 
left  it  munching  away  for  dear  life. 

Out  in  the  yard  was  a  red  cock  and  a  white  hen,  but  though  they 
scratched  and  scratched  it  was  never  a  grain  that  they  found.  So  the 
prince  threw  them  a  handful  of  barley  and  left  them  pecking  away  at  it, 
as  though  they  had  not  seen  the  like  for  a  week  of  Sundays. 


aftipboo^of 


great, rfc!)  one. 


IIO  THE  WHITE  BIRD. 

After  he  had  done  all  these  things,  he  and  the  old  man  sat  down  to  sup- 
per together,  and,  if  it  was  not  of  the  finest,  why  the  prince  had  a  good 
appetite,  and  one  can  have  no  better  sauce  to  a  crust  than  that. 

The  prince  stayed  all  night,  and  the  next  morning  he  was  for  jogging  on 
his  way.  But  before  he  went  he  offered  the  old  man  what  money  he  had, 
because  anybody  could  read  the  sign  over  the  door. 

But  the  old  man  shook  his  head.  "  No,  no,"  said  he,  "  you  have  paid 
your  score.  You  have  given  what  you  can,  and  you  shall  have  what  you 
need.  Here  is  a  little  book,  and  in  it  you  may  read  whatever  you  wisli 
to  know.  Go  out  into  the  stable  and  you  will  find  a  barley  straw  back  of 
the  white  cow's  ear.  Take  that  with  you,  for  you  will  need  it.  Look  in  the 
manger  and  you  will  find  an  egg  that  the  white  hen  has  laid ;  take  it  with 
you  also,  for  it  is  worth  the  having." 

Then  he  said  good-bye  and  shut  the  door,  and  that  was  the  last  the 
prince  saw  of  him. 

The  prince  went  to  the  stable,  and  there  he  found  the  barley  straw  and 
the  egg,  just  as  the  old  man  had  said,  and  off  he  marched  with  them. 

He  went  to  the  grand  house  over  the  way  and  called  his  brothers,  but 
they  only  came  to  the  windows  and  laughed  and  jeered  at  him.  "  No,  no," 
said  they,  "  we  are  going  no  farther  along  the  road,  for  we  know  very  well 
when  the  world  is  smooth  with  us.  The  Fruit  of  Happiness  can  bring  us 
nothing  better  than  what  we  have  at  hand." 

And  so  the  young  prince  had  to  trudge  away  by  himself.  But  what  to 
do  with  the  straw  and  the  egg  he  knew  no  more  than  my  grandmother's 
cat.  So  he  opened  his  little  book,  and  this  was  what  it  said  between  the 
leaves : 

"  Mount  the  straw  and  ride  it  whither  it  takes  you" 

"  So,"  said  the  prince ;  "  that  would  be  a  strange  thing  to  do  for  sure  and 
certain.  All  the  same,  an  easy  task  is  worth  the  trying;"  so  he  just  flung 
his  leg  over  the  straw  and — whisk !  pop ! — there  he  was,  astride  of  a  great 
splendid  horse  with  smooth  hair  as  yellow  as  gold. 

That  straw  was  a  straw  worth  having ! 

And  the  best  part  of  the  matter  was  that  the  prince  hac}  no  need  to 
draw  the  bridle-rein  either  to  the  right  or  to  the  left ;  for  the  yellow  horse 
took  the  bit  in  his  teeth  and  away  he  pounded  so  that  the  ground  smoked 
under  his  hoofs,  and  the  wind  whistled  back  of  the  prince's  ears.  By  and 
by  they  came  to  a  great  sandy  desert-place  where  not  a  twig  or  a  leaf  was 
to  be  seen,  but  only  white  bones  scattered  here  and  there,  for  the  prince  was 


Bleeping  unber  f  Ije  t  rec  of  life  9  js 

c 


112  THE  WHITE  BIRD. 

not  the  first  by  many  who  had  tried  to  cross  that  desert  to  the  Tree  of 
Happiness. 

But  he  had  better  luck  than  the  others,  for  the  yellow  horse  carried  him 
along  like  the  wind,  and  on  and  on  until  at  last  he  came  within  sight  of  the 
Tree  of  Happiness.  There  sat  three  terrible  giants,  an  old  giant  and  his  two 
sons,  and  alongside  of  each  lay  a  great  iron  club  with  sharp  spikes  in  the 
end  of  it.  But  all  three  sat  with  their  eyes  shut,  sleeping  away  as  though 
they  would  never  awaken.  And  that  was  a  good  thing  for  the  prince,  for 
he  had  never  seen  such  terrible,  wicked-looking  creatures  as  the  old  giant 
and  his  two  sons.  He  leaped  from  off  the  back  of  the  yellow  horse,  and 
there  it  was,  nothing  but  a  barley  straw.  He  put  it  in  his  pocket  and  took 
out  his  Book  of  Knowledge  and  opened  it.  This  was  what  it  said  :• 

"Fear  not  the  giants,  for  they  will  not  awake;  but  touch  neither  the 
golden  fruit  nor  the  silver  fruit,  for  they  are  not  for  you" 

When  the  prince  read  what  the  Book  of  Knowledge  said,  he  knew  that 
it  was  so.  Up  he  marched  to  the  Tree  of  Happiness  as  bold  as  bold  could 
be,  and  the  giants  snored  away  so  that  the  leaves  shook. 

There  hung  three  apples ;  the  first  was  of  gleaming  gold,  the  second  was 
of  shining  silver,  and  the  third  was  just  a  poor,  weazened,  shrivelled  thing, 
that  looked  as  though  there  were  not  three  drops  of  juice  in  it. 

"  Prut !"  says  the  prince,  "  it  can  never  be  that  I  have  travelled  all  this 
way  for  nothing  in  the  world  but  a  dead  apple.  After  all,  it  must  be  the 
golden  fruit  that  I  am  to  take,  in  spite  of  what  the  Book  of  Knowledge 
said ;  for  if  happiness  is  to  be  found  in  anything,  it  is  to  be  found  in  such 
as  it." 

So  he  reached  up  his  hand  and  plucked  the  golden  apple,  and  then — hi ! 
what  a  hubbub,  for  the  Tree  of  Happiness  began  to  clamor  and  call  as 
though  every  leaf  on  it  had  become  a  tongue  to  speak  with. 

"  Help !  help !"  it  cried.  "  Here  is  one  coming  to  rob  us  of  our  golden 
fruit !" 

Up  jumped  the  three  giants,  and  each  one  snatched  up  his  iron  club  and 
came  at  the  prince  as  though  to  put  an  end  to  him  without  any  more  talk 
over  the  business.  But  the  prince  begged  and  prayed  and  prayed  and 
begged  that  they  would  spare  his  life. 

"  Listen,"  said  the  old  giant ;  "  if  you  will  promise  to  bring  us  the  Sword 
of  Brightness  that  shines  in  the  darkness  and  cuts  whatsoever  the  edge  is 
turned  against,  we  will  not  only  spare  your  life,  but  give  you  the  Fruit  of 
Happiness  into  the  bargain."  That  was  what  the  old  giant  said,  and  the 


THE   WHITE   BIRD.  !I3 

others  agreed  to  it ;  for  if  they  could  once  lay  hand  upon  such  a  sword  as 
that  they  would  be  masters  of  all  the  world. 

Well,  the  prince  promised  that  he  would  get  them  the  Sword  of  Bright- 
ness, for  one  will  promise  much  before  one  will  be  knocked  on  the  head 
with  an  iron  club ;  and  then  the  giant  let  him  go,  and  glad  enough  he  was  to 
get  away. 

Off  he  went  back  of  the  hill.  He  drew  out  his  barley  straw  and  threw 
his  leg  over  it,  and  there  he  sat  astride  of  his  yellow  horse  again. 

"  I  should  like,"  said  he,  "  to  be  carried  to  where  I  can  find  the  Sword 
of  Brightness  that  shines  in  the  darkness  and  cuts  whatever  its  edge  is 
turned  against."  That  was  all  that  he  had  to  say,  and  away  clattered  the 
yellow  horse  over  stock  and  stone  so  that  the  ground  smoked  beneath  his 
hoofs.  On  they  went  and  on  they  went  for  a  great  long  while,  until  at  last 
they  came  to  a  tall  castle  as  black  as  your  hat,  and  there  was  where  the 
Sword  of  Brightness  was  to  be  found.  In  front  of  the  castle  gate  lay  two 
great  fiery  dragons,  with  smoke  coming  up  out  of  their  nostrils  instead  of 
the  breath  of  life,  and  all  over  their  bodies  were  brazen  scales  that  shone 
like  gold  in  the  sunlight.  But  both  dragons  were  sound  asleep. 

Inside  of  the  court-yard  were  many  and  one  fierce  soldiers  armed  in 
shining  armor  and  each  with  a  battle-axe  or  a  sword  or  an  iron  club  lying 
beside  him  ;  but  they  too  were  as  sound  asleep  as  the  dragon. 

Down  jumped  the  prince  from  the  great  yellow  horse,  and  there  was  the 
barley  straw  again.  He  took  out  the  Book  of  Knowledge  from  his  pocket, 
and  this  was  what  it  said  : 

"Fear  not  the  dragons  nor  the  fierce  soldiers,  for  they  will  not  awaken; 
but  take  only  the  old  leathern  scabbard  with  the  sword" 

So  up  walked  the  prince  as  bold  as  brass,  and  the  soldiers  and  the 
dragons  said  never  a  word,  but  just  snored  away  so  that  the  windows 
rattled.  Into  the  castle  he  walked,  and  nobody  said  "  No  "  to  him.  There 
sat  an  old  man,  as  wicked  as  sin  and  as  grey  as  the  ashes  in  the  hearth.  He 
never  moved  a  hair,  only  his  little  red  eyes  turned  here  and  there,  and  were 
never  still  for  a  wink.  A  great  keen  sword  lay  on  the  table  in  front  of  him, 
and  the  light  on  the  blade  was  like  the  bright  flash  of  lightning.  The 
prince  took  the  sword  up  from  the  table,  and  the  little  old  man  looked  at 
him,  but  said  never  a  word,  good  or  bad. 

On  the  wall  hung  three  scabbards ;  one  was  of  gold  studded  all  over 
with  precious  stones ;  another  of  silver  that  gleamed  like  the  light  of  the 
moon  in  frosty  weather;  and  the  third  was  of  nothing  but  old,  shabby, 


THE  WHITE   BIRD. 

worm-eaten  leather  that  looked  as  though  they  had  just  fetched  it  down 
from  the  dusty  garret. 

"  It  would  be  a  pity,"  said  the  prince,  "  to  put  such  a  fine  sword  into 
such  a  poor  scabbard.  I'll  not  choose  the  gold  because  of  what  happened 
to  me  over  at  the  Tree  of  Happiness  yonder,  but  surely  silver  is  none  too 
good  for  the  Sword  of  Brightness." 

So  he  took  down  the  silver  scabbard  and  thrust  the  sword  into  it,  and 
therewith  dipped  his  spoon  into  the  wrong  pot  again ;  for,  no  sooner  had 
he  sheathed  the  sword  in  the  silver  scabbard  than  the  old  gray  man  began 
to  thump  on  the  table  in  front  of  him  and  to  bawl  at  the  top  of  his  voice, 
"  Help !  help !  here  is  one  come  to  steal  our  Sword  of  Brightness." 

At  this  the  soldiers  outside  woke  up  and  began  to  clash  and  rattle  with 
their  battle-axes  and  swords  and  iron  clubs,  and  the  dragons  began  to  roar 
and  send  up  clouds  of  smoke  like  a  chimney  afire. 

In  ran  the  soldiers,  and  were  for  putting  an  end  to  the  prince  without 
another  word  being  said,  but  he  begged  and  prayed  and  prayed  and  begged 
that  his  life  might  be  spared,  just  as  he  had  done  with  the  giants  over  yon- 
der at  the  Tree  of  Happiness. 

"  Listen,"  says  the  old  grey  man  at  last ;  "  if  you  will  promise  to  bring 
me  the  White  Bird  from  the  black  mountain,  I  will  not  only  spare  your  life, 
but  will  give  you  the  Sword  of  Brightness  into  the  bargain." 

Yes,  the  prince  would  get  the  White  Bird  if  anybody  in  the  world  could 
get  it.  And  thereupon  they  let  him  go,  and  glad  enough  he  was  to  get 
away. 

Back  of  the  hedge  he  threw  his  leg  over  the  barley  straw. 

"  I  would  like,"  said  he,  "  to  be  taken  to  where  I  can  find  the  White 
Bird  that  lives  on  the  black  mountain ;"  and  away  thundered  the  yellow 
horse,  like  a  storm  in  June. 

If  it  was  far  that  they  travelled  before,  it  was  farther  that  they  travelled 
this  time.  But  at  last  they  came  to  the  black  mountain,  and  the  prince 
jumped  off  the  nag  and  thrust  the  straw  into  his  pocket. 

There  was  not  a  blade  of  grass  nor  a  bit  of  green  to  be  seen  on  the  hill, 
but  only  a  great  lot  of  round,  black  stones  scattered  from  top  to  bottom. 
That  was  all  that  was  left  of  the  lads  who  had  come  that  way  before  to  find 
the  White  Bird. 

On  the  top  of  the  mountain  sat  an  old  witch  with  golden  hair,  and  in 
her  hand  was  the  White  Bird.  The  prince  opened  his  Book  of  Knowledge, 
and  there  he  read  that  if  one  would  gain  the  White  Bird  one  would  have 


finb*  tty  g 

brigl)tne!3<5  to^crf  <»rt0  an  oJb  man* 


THE  WHITE  BIRD. 

to  catch  the  witch  by  her  golden  hair,  for  then  she  would  be  compelled 
to  grant  whatever  was  asked  of  her ;  only  he  would  have  to  be  very 
careful  in  his  doings,  for  if  the  witch  caught  sight  of  him  upon  the  black 
hill  she  would  change  him  into  a  stone  just  as  she  had  all  the  rest  who 
had  come  that  way. 

But  how  was  he  to  climb  the  hill  without  the  witch  seeing  him?  That 
was  what  the  prince  would  like  to  know.  So  he  turned  over  another  leaf 
of  the  Book  of  Knowledge,  and  there  it  was  all  in  plain  black  and  white. 
This  was  what  it  said  : 

"  Crack  the  egg  of  the  ^vhite  hen  and  put  on  the  cap" 

The  prince  cracked  the  egg,  and,  sure  enough,  inside  of  it  was  a  little 
cap  of  feathers.  He  put  on  the  feather  cap  and — whisk ! — as  quick  as  a 
wink  he  was  changed  into  a  titmouse,  which  is  the  least  of  all  the  birds 
in  that  land. 

He  spread  his  wings  and  flew  and  flew  and  flew,  until  he  was  close 
behind  the  witch  where  she  sat  on  the  black  mountain.  He  took  off  his 
cap  and  there  he  was  in  his  own  shape  again.  He  caught  the  old  witch 
by  her  golden  hair  and  held  her  fast.  And  you  should  have  heard  how 
s,he  screamed  and  scolded,  and  you  should  have  seen  how  she  twisted  and 
turned ! 

But  the  prince  just  held  fast,  and  she  could  make  nothing  of  it  for  all 
her  trying. 

"  And  what  do  you  want,  that  you  come  here  to  torment  me  ?"  said  she 
at  last. 

"  I  want  the  White  Bird,"  said  the  prince ;  "  and  I  will  be  satisfied  with 
nothing  else."  It  was  all  to  no  purpose  that  the  old  witch  stormed  and 
scolded,  for  what  he  had  said  he  had  said,  and  he  would  be  satisfied  with 
nothing  else.  So  at  last,  willy-nilly,  she  had  to  give  him  what  he  asked 
for. 

The  prince  took  it  in  his  hands,  and  it  was  a  white  bird  no  longer,  but 
the  prettiest  lass  that  ever  a  body's  eyes  looked  upon,  with  cheeks  as  red 
as  roses  and  a  skin  as  white  as  snow. 

But  still  the  prince  held  tight  to  the  old  witch's  hair,  and  now  what  else 
was  it  he  was  wanting. 

Why,  before  he  would  let  her  go,  she  must  change  all  the  round  stones 
back  again  into  the  lads  of  flesh  and  blood  they  had  been  before. 

So  the  old  witch  had  to  do  that  also,  and  there  stood  so  many  good 
stout  lads  in  the  place  of  the  hard,  round  stones. 


THE  WHITE  BIRD. 


117 


But  still  the  prince  held  fast  to  her  golden  hair.  And  what  else  was  it 
he  was  wanting  ? 

Why,  this  !  The  old  witch  must  promise  to  do  no  harm  to  him  or  to 
anybody  else  who  should  come  that  way.  The  old  witch  had  to  promise. 
And  then  he  let  go  of  her  hair,  and  you  can  guess  what  a  rage  she  was  in. 

But  the  prince  cared  nothing  for  that,  for  he  had  found  what  he  came  for. 

He  took  the  barley  straw  out  of  his  pocket  and  threw  his  leg  over  it. 
Then  he  took  the  princess  up  behind  him  on  the  great  yellow  horse,  and 
away  he  clattered,  leaving  the  witch  scolding  behind  him. 

After  a  while  he  came  to  the  black  castle ;  there  he  took  out  his  Book 
of  Knowledge,  for  now  that  he  had  the  White  Bird  he  could  not  bear  to 
think  of  giving  her  up ;  and  this  was  what  the  book  said : 

"  Takt  the  White  Bird  to  the  old  grey  man  and  he  will  give  you  the  Sword 
of  Brightness,  turn  the  edge  against  him  and  against  the  fierce  soldiers  and 
agains}  the  two  dragons,  and  then  ride  away  with  your  White  Bird." 

So  up  he  rode  to  the  black  castle,  and  the  fiery  dragons  let  him  pass 
when  they  saw  that  the  White  Bird  rode  behind  him.  The  old  grey  man 
gave  the  lad  the  Sword  of  Brightness  quickly  enough,  for  the  White  Bird 
was  worth  that  and  a  great  deal  more,  I  can  tell  you. 

As  soon  as  the  prince  had  hold  of  the  Sword  of  Brightness,  he  turned 
the  keen  edge  of  the  blade  against  the  wicked  old  man  and  the  soldiers 
and  the  dragons;  off  flew  their  heads,  and  there  they  lay  as  dead  as  red 
herrings  in  a  box. 

Then  he  thrust  the  Sword  o/  Brightness  into  the  leathern  scabbard,  for 
he  had  learned  a  grain  or  two  of  wisdom  by  this  time,  and  away  he  rode 
with  the  White  Bird  sitting  behind  him. 

On  they  rode  and  on  they  rode  until  they  came  to  the  desert  place 
and  the  Tree  of  Happiness.  And  then  the  prince  took  out  his  Book  of 
Wisdom  and  turned  over  the  leaves,  for  he  was  of  no  mind  to  give  up  the 
Sword  of  Brightness  if  he  could  help  doing  so. 

"  Turn  the  edge  of  the  blade  against  the  three  giants" 

Thus  said  the  book,  and  the  lad  did  so,  and  there  they  lay  all  three  of 
them  as  dead  as  stocks. 

I  know  that  this  is  true  which  I  tell,  because  since  then  there  have 
been  no  cruel  giants  to  keep  a  body  from  getting  a  taste  of  the  Fruit  of 
Happiness  now  and  then,  if  a  body  chooses  to  travel  that  far  to  find  it. 
But  that  is  neither  here  nor  there,  and  what  I  have  to  tell  is  this : 

The  young  prince  rode  away  towards  home  with  the  White  Bird  sitting 


Ug  THE  WHITE  BIRD. 

behind  him,  the  Sword  of  Brightness  hanging  by  his  side,  and  the  Fruit  of 
Happiness  in  his  pocket. 

By  and  by  he  came  to  the  place  where  the  two  houses  stood,  the  one 
on  the  one  side  of  the  road,  and  the  one  on  the  other,  and  there  he  took 
out  his  Book  of  Knowledge  to  have  a  peep  at  it,  and  this  was  what  it  said  : 

"Buy  no  black  sheep" 

"  Prut !"  says  the  prince,  "  what  should  I  want  with  black  sheep  I  should 
like  to  know  ?" 

By  and  by  he  met  a  great  crowd,  and  in  the  midst  of  all  the  rest  were 
his  two  brothers  with  their  hands  tied  behind  them  with  stout  ropes. 

And  what  were  they  going  to  do  with  the  two  ?  That  was  what  the 
prince  would  like  to  know. 

"  Why,"  said  those  who  held  them,  "  they  have  spent  all  their  money 
at  the  great  house  over  yonder,  and  have  run  up  a  score  for  good  things 
besides,  and  now  they  are  packing  off  to  prison  because  they  cannot  pay 
what  they  owe." 

"  Come,  come,"  says  the  prince,  "  let  them  go  and  I  will  pay  their 
reckoning ;"  and  so  he  did,  and  that  was  what  the  Book  of  Wisdom  meant 
by  buying  black  sheep. 

After  that  they  all  stepped  away  homeward,  right  foot  foremost ;  for 
since  the  young  prince  had  brought  the  Fruit  of  Happiness  along  with 
him,  there  was  no  need  of  the  other  brothers  going  to  look  for  it. 

By  and  by  they  felt  weary  and  sat  down  by  the  roadside  to  rest,  and 
as  they  sat  there  the  youngest  prince  fell  asleep.  While  he  slept  the  elder 
brothers  stole  away  the  Sword  of  Brightness  and  the  Fruit  of  Happiness. 
Then  they  wakened  him  and  made  him  strip  off  his  fine  clothes,  and  gave 
him  a  parcel  of  rags  and  tatters  fit  for  no  one  but  a  beggar,  and  he  had  to 
put  them  on  or  go  without. 

As  for  the  White  Bird,  they  made  her  vow  and  swear  that  she  would 
say  nothing  of  all  this.  Then  off  they  marched  with  her  and  with  the 
Sword  of  Brightness,  and  left  the  prince  with  never  a  stjtch  or  a  thread 
that  was  worth  the  having. 

"  See,"  said  they,  as  soon  as  they  came  home,  "  not  only  have  we 
brought  the  Fruit  of  Happiness,  but  the  Sword  of  Brightness  and  the 
White  Bird  into  the  bargain." 

As  for  the  youngest  brother,  they  told  the  king  that  he  had  stopped 
over  at  the  tavern  yonder,  and  had  spent  all  his  money  in  eating  and 
drinking,  just  as  they  themselves  had  really  done. 


garbengafc  anb  onlp  one  hnotoef^  ^t'm 


120  THE  WHITE   BIRD. 

But  the  White  Bird  did  nothing  but  weep  and  weep,  and  neither  this 
brother  nor  that  could  draw  the  Sword  of  Brightness  from  its  leathern 
scabbard.  And  when  the  king  came  to  taste  the  Fruit  of  Happiness,  it 
was  as  bitter  as  gall.  So,  after  all,  the  two  gained  nothing  by  what  they 
had  done. 

But  the  young  prince  was  not  for  giving  up  all  that  he  had  lost,  without 
trying  to  get  what  he  could  back  again.  Off  he  marched  in  his  rags  and 
tatters  until  he  came  to  the  castle  where  the  king,  his  father,  lived.  Up 
he  stepped  to  the  door  and  knocked,  but  nobody  would  let  him  in  because 
he  looked  like  nothing  but  a  beggar.  So  down  he  sat  beside  the  gate  of 
the  castle  garden,  since  he  could  not  come  into  the  house. 

After  a  while  the  folks  came  out,  one  by  one  and  two  by  two,  to  walk 
in  the  garden  and  take  the  air,  and  all  the  time  the  prince  sat  there  and 
nobody  knew  him. 

Last  of  all  came  the  old  king,  and  with  him  walked  the  White  Bird. 
The  king  was  for  passing  the  lad  by  as  all  the  rest  had  done.  But  as 
soon  as  the  White  Bird  saw  him,  she  knew  who  he  was  and  ran  to  him 
and  threw  her  arms  around  his  neck  and  kissed  him. 

"  Here  is  my  own  sweetheart,"  said  she,  "  and  he  has  come  back  to 
me  again." 

The  prince  told  the  king  all  that  had  happened  from  beginning  to  end, 
and  how  it  really  was  he  who  had  found  the  White  Bird,  the  Sword  of 
Brightness,  and  the  Fruit  of  Happiness. 

"  Yes,  yes,"  says  the  king,  "  that  is  all  very  well,  but  it  is  just  the  tale 
that  your  brothers  tell ;  now  can  you  draw  the  Sword  of  Brightness  from 
the  leathern  scabbard?" 

"  Oh,  yes,"  said  the  prince,  "  I  can  do  that  easily  enough."  So  the 
sword  was  brought  and — whisk ! — he  whipped  the  blade  out  of  the  scabbard 
so  that  the  light  of  it  dazzled  the  eyes  of  everybody  that  looked  upon  it. 

Then  the  king  saw  what  had  happened  as  plain  as  the  nose  on  his 
face,  and  was  for  punishing  the  elder  brothers  as  they  deserved,  but 
nobody  could  find  them,  for  as  soon  as  they  heard  that  the  youngest 
prince  had  come  home  again  they  packed  off  without  waiting  to  learn 
more  news. 

And  why  do  I  call  this  the  story  of  the  White  Bird  ?  Listen :  any 
Tom  or  Jake  or  Harry  might  have  found  the  Sword  of  Brightness  or  the 
Fruit  of  Happiness ;  but  you  may  depend  upon  it  that  nobody  but  a  real 
prince  could  ever  have  found  the  White  Bird. 


Ten  O  clock* 


Ihe  Children  drone 

lln  sing-song  tone, 
The  Master's  shoes  creak  on  the  Floor . 

They're  baking  Pies 

At  tiome^  and  Flies  Good 

Buzz  in  and  out  the  open  Door. 

weather 

TheJSec/s  are  made; 
The  Pans  are  laid 
Out  in  the  pleasant  Sun  to  dry . 
Good  Gretchen  takes 
SomeDougA,  and  makes, 

,  a  Saucer  Pie.  KP 


How  the  Good 

Gtfts  were  used 

by  Two. 


x. 


HIS  is  the  way  that  this  story  begins : 

Once  upon  a  time  there  was  a  rich  brother  and  a 
poor  brother,  and  the  one  lived  across  the  street  from 
the  other. 

The  rich  brother  had  all  of  the  world's  gear  that 
was  good  for  him  and  more  besides ;  as  for  the  poor 
brother,  why,  he  had  hardly  enough  to  keep  soul  and 
body  together,  yet  he  was  contented  with  his  lot, 
and  contentment  did  not  sit  back  of  the  stove  in  the  rich  brother's  house  ; 
wherefore  in  this  the  rich  brother  had  less  than  the  poor  brother. 

Now  these  things  happened  in  the  good  old  times  when  the  saints 
used  to  be  going  hither  and  thither  in  the  world  upon  this  business  and 
upon  that.  So  one  day,  who  should  come  travelling  to  the  town  where 
the  rich  brother  and  the  poor  brother  lived,  but  Saint  Nicholas  himself. 

Just  beside  the  town  gate  stood  the  great  house  of  the  rich  brother ; 
thither  went  the  saint  and  knocked  at  the  door,  and  it  was  the  rich  brother 
himself  who  came  and  opened  it  to  him. 

Now,  Saint  Nicholas  had  had  a  long  walk  of  it  that  day,  so  that  he  was 


124  HOW  THE  GOOD  GIFTS  WERE   USED   BY  TWO. 

quite  covered  with  dust,  and  looked  no  better  than  he  should.  Therefore 
he  seemed  to  be  only  a  common  beggar ;  and  when  the  rich  brother  heard 
him  ask  for  a  night's  lodging  at  his  fine,  great  house,  he  gaped  like  a  toad  in 
a  rain-storm.  What !  Did  the  traveller  think  that  he  kept  a  free  lodging- 
house  for  beggars?  If  he  did  he  was  bringing  his  grist  to  the  wrong  mill ; 
there  was  no  place  for  the  likes  of  him  in  the  house,  and  that  was  the  truth. 
But  yonder  was  a  poor  man's  house  across  the  street,  if  he  went  over 
there  perhaps  he  could  get  a  night's  lodging  and  a  crust  of  bread.  That 
was  what  the  rich  brother  said,  and  after  he  had  said  it  he  banged  to  the 
door,  and  left  Saint  Nicholas  standing  on  the  outside  under  the  blessed  sky. 

So  now  there  was  nothing  for  good  Saint  Nicholas  to  do  but  to  go 
across  the  street  to  the  poor  brother's  house,  as  the  other  had  told  him  to 
do.  Rap !  tap !  tap !  he  knocked  at  the  door,  and  it  was  the  poor  brother 
who  came  and  opened  it  for  him. 

"  Come  in,  come  in  !"  says  he,  "  come  in  and  welcome !" 

So  in  came  Saint  Nicholas,  and  sat  himself  down  behind  the  stove  where 
it  was  good  and  warm,  while  the  poor  man's  wife  spread  before  him  all  that 
they  had  in  the  house — a  loaf  of  brown  bread  and  a  crock  of  cold  water 
from  the  town  fountain. 

"  And  is  that  all  that  you  have  to  eat  ?"  said  Saint  Nicholas. 

Yes ;  that  was  all  that  they  had. 

"  Then,  maybe,  I  can  help  you  to  better,"  said  Saint  Nicholas.  "  So 
bring  me  hither  a  bowl  and  a  crock." 

You  may  guess  that  the  poor  man's  wife  was  not  long  in  fetching  what 
he  wanted.  When  they  were  brought  the  saint  blessed  the  one  and  passed 
his  hand  over  the  other. 

Then  he  said, "  Bowl  be  filled !"  and  straightway  the  bowl  began  to  boil 
up  with  a  good  rich  meat  pottage  until  it  was  full  to  the  brim.  Then  the 
saint  said,  "  Bowl  be  stilled  !"  and  it  stopped  making  the  broth,  and  there 
stood  as  good  a  feast  as  man  could  wish  for. 

Then  Saint  Nicholas  said,  "  Crock  be  filled  !"  and  the  crock  began  to 
bubble  up  with  the  best  of  beer.  Then  he  said,  "  Crock  be  stilled  !"  and 
there  stood  as  good  drink  as  man  ever  poured  down  his  throat. 

Down  they  all  sat,  the  saint  and  the  poor  man  and  the  poor  man's  wife, 
and  ate  and  drank  till  they  could  eat  and  drink  no  more,  and  whenever  the 
bowl  and  the  crock  grew  empty,  the  one  and  the  other  became  filled  at  the 
bidding. 

The  next  morning  the  saint  trudged  off  the  way  he  was  going,  but  he 


aintj&icfyota*  knock*  at  f  fyt 

tfcl)  man'?  boo  j  but  fin^onlpa  cl)iU 


126  HOW  THE   GOOD   GIFTS   WERE  USED   BY  TWO. 

left  behind  him  the  bowl  and  the  crock,  so  that  there  was  no  danger  of 
hunger  and  thirst  coming  to  that  house. 

Well,  the  world  jogged  along  for  a  while,  maybe  a  month  or  two,  and 
life  was  as  easy  for  the  poor  man  and  his  wife  as  an  old  shoe.  One  day  the 
rich  brother  said  to  his  wife.  "  See  now,  Luck  seems  to  be  stroking  our 
brother  over  yonder  the  right  way ;  I'll  just  go  and  see  what  it  all  means." 

So  over  the  street  he  went,  and  found  the  poor  man  at  home.  Down  he 
sat  back  of  the  stove  and  began  to  chatter  and  talk  and  talk  and  chatter, 
and  the  upshot  of  the  matter  was  that,  bit  by  bit,  he  dragged  out  the  whole 
story  from  the  poor  man.  Then  nothing  would  do  but  he  must  see  the 
bowl  and  the  crock  at  work.  So  the  bowl  and  the  crock  were  brought  and 
set  to  work  and — Hui ! — how  the  rich  brother  opened  his  eyes  when  he  saw 
them  making  good  broth  and  beer  of  themselves. 

And  now  he  must  and  would  have  that  bowl  and  crock.  At  first  the 
poor  brother  said  "  No,"  but  the  other  bargained  and  bargained  until,  at 
last,  the  poor  man  consented  to  let  him  have  the  two  for  a  hundred  dollars. 
So  the  rich  brother  paid  down  his  hundred  dollars,  and'  off  he  marched  with 
what  he  wanted. 

When  the  next  day  had  come,  the  rich  brother  said  to  his  wife,  "  Never 
you  mind  about  the  dinner  to-day.  Go  you  into  the  harvest-field,  and  I 
will  see  to  the  dinner."  So  off  went  the  wife  with  the  harvesters,  and 
the  husband  stayed  at  home  and  smoked  his  pipe  all  the  morning,  for  he 
knew  that  dinner  would  be  ready  at  the  bidding.  So  when  noontide  had 
come  he  took  out  the  bowl  and  the  crock,  and,  placing  them  on  the  table, 
said,  "  Bowl  be  filled  !  crock  be  filled  !"  and  straightway  they  began  making 
broth  and  beer  as  fast  as  they  could. 

In  a  little  while  the  bowl  and  the  crock  were  filled,  and  then  they  could 
hold  no  more,  so  that  the  brdth  and  beer  ran  down  all  over  the  table  and 
the  floor.  Then  the  rich  brother  was  in  a  pretty  pickle,  for  he  did  not 
know  how  to  bid  the  bowl  and  the  crock  to  stop  from  making  what  they 
were  making.  Out  he  ran  and  across  the  street  to  the  poor  man's  house, 
and  meanwhile  the  broth  and  beer  filled  the  whole  room  until  it  could 
hold  no  more,  and  then  ran  out  into  the  gutters  so  that  all  the  pigs  and 
dogs  in  the  town  had  a  feast  that  day. 

"Oh,  dear  brother!"  cried  the  rich  man  to  the  poor  man,  "do  tell  me 
what  to  do  or  the  whole  town  will  soon  be  smothered  in  broth  and  beer." 

But,  no  ;  the  poor  brother  was  not  to  be  stirred  in  such  haste ;  they 
would  have  to  strike  a  bit  of  a  bargain  first.  So  the  upshot  of  the  matter 


aint  |5icl)ola#  bkm?  f Ijepooj 

man'?  crock  anb  botoltoi'ttjf oot>  anfc  OrinH. 


128  HOW  THE  GOOD  GIFTS  WERE  USED  BY  TWO. 

was  that  the  rich  brother  had  to  pay  the  poor  brother  another  hundred 
dollars  to  take  the  crock  and  the  bowl  back  again. 

See,  now,  what  comes  of  being  covetous  ! 

As  for  the  poor  man,  he  was  well  off  in  the  world,  for  he  had  all  that 
he  could  eat  and  drink,  and  a  stockingful  of  money  back  of  the  stove 
besides. 

Well,  time  went  along  as  time  does,  and  now  it  was  Saint  Christopher 
who  was  thinking  about  taking  a  little  journey  below.  "  See,  brother," 
says  Saint  Nicholas  to  him,  "  if  you  chance  to  be  jogging  by  yonder  town, 
stop  at  the  poor  man's  house,  for  there  you  will  have  a  warm  welcome  and 
plenty  to  eat." 

But  when  Saint  Christopher  came  to  the  town,  the  rich  man's  house 
seemed  so  much  larger  and  finer  than  the  poor  man's  house,  that  he 
thought  that  he  would  ask  for  lodging  there. 

But  it  fared  the  same  with  him  that  it  had  with  Saint  Nicholas.  Prut ! 
Did  he  think  that  the  rich  man  kept  free  lodgings  for  beggars  ?  And — 
bang ! — the  door  was  slammed  in  his  face,  and  off  packed  the  saint  with  a 
flea  in  his  ear. 

Over  he  went  to  the  poor  man's  house,  and  there  was  a  warm  welcome 
for  him,  and  good  broth  and  beer  from  the  bowl  and  the  crock  that  Saint 
Nicholas  had  blessed.  After  he  had  supped  he  went  to  bed,  where  he  slept 
as  snug  and  warm  as  a  mouse  in  the  nest. 

Then  the  good  wife  said  to  the  husband,  "  See,  now,  the  poor  fellow's 
shirt  is  none  too  good  for  him  to  be  wearing.  I'll  just  make  him  another 
while  he  is  sleeping,  so  that  he'll  have  a  decent  bit  of  linen  to  wear  in 
the  morning." 

So  she  brought  her  best  roll  of  linen  out  of  the  closet,  and  set  to  work 
stitching  and  sewing,  and  never  stopped  till  she  had  made  the  new  shirt  to 
the  last  button.  The  next  morning,  when  the  saint  awoke,  there  lay  the 
nice,  new,  clean  shirt,  and  he  put  it  on  and  gave  thanks  for  it. 

Before  he  left  the  house  the  poor  man  took  him  aside,  and  emptied  the 
stockingful  of  silver  money  on  the  table,  and  bade  the  saint  take  what  he 
wanted,  "  for,"  says  he,  "  a  penny  or  two  is  never  amiss  in  the  great  world." 

After  that  it  was  time  for  the  traveller  to  be  jogging;  but  before  he 
went  he  said,  "  See,  now,  because  you  have  been  so  kind  and  so  good 
to  a  poor  wayfarer,  I  will  give  you  a  blessing;  whatever  you  begin  doing 
this  morning,  you  shall  continue  doing  till  sunset."  So  saying,  he  took 
up  his  staff  and  went  his  way. 


an  toelcome* 


130 


HOW  THE  GOOD  GIFTS  WERE   USED   BY  TWO. 


After  Saint  Christopher  had  gone  the  poor  man  and  his  wife  began 
talking  together  as  to  what  would  be  best  for  them  to  be  doing  all  of  the 
day,  and  one  said  one  thing  and  the  other  said  the  other,  but  every  plug 
was  too  small  for  the  hole,  as  we  say  in  our  town,  for  nothing  seemed  to 
fit  the  case. 

"  Come,  come,"  said  the  good  woman,  "  here  we  are  losing  time  that 
can  never  be  handled  again.  While  we  are  talking  the  matter  over  I  will 
be  folding  the  linen  that  is  left  from  making  the  shirt." 

"  And  I,"  said  the  good  man,  "  will  be  putting  the  money  away  that 
the  holy  man  left  behind  him." 

So  the  wife  began  folding  the  linen  into  a  bundle  again,  and  the  man 
began  putting  away  the  money  that  he  had  offered  in  charity.  Thus  they 
began  doing,  and  thus  they  kept  on  doing;  so  that  by  the  time  that  the 
evening  had  come  the  whole  house  was  full  of  fine  linen,  and  every  tub  and 
bucket  and  mug  and  jug  about  the  place  was  brimming  with  silver  money. 
As  for  the  good  couple,  their  fortune  was  made,  and  that  is  the  heart  of  the 
whole  matter  in  four  words. 

That  night  who  should  come  over  from  across  the  street  but  the  rich 
brother,  with  his  pipe  in  his  mouth  and  his  hands  in  his  pockets.  But  when 
he  saw  how  very  rich  the  poor  man  had  become  all  of  a  sudden,  and  what 
a  store  of  fine  linen  and  silver  money  he  had,  he  was  so  wonder-struck  that 
he  did  not  know  whither  to  look  and  what  to  think. 

Dear  heart's  sake  alive !  Where  did  all  these  fine  things  come  from  ? 
That  was  what  he  should  like  to  know. 

Oh !  there  was  nothing  to  hide  in  the  matter,  and  the  poor  man  told  all 
about  what  had  happened. 

As  for  the  rich  brother,  when  he  found  how  he  had  shut  his  door  in  the 
face  of  good-fortune,  he  rapped  his  head  with  his  knuckles  because  he  was 
so  angry  at  his  own  foolishness.  However,  crying  never  mended  a  torn 
jacket,  so  he  made  the  poor  brother  promise  that  if  either  of  the  saints  came 
that  way  again,  they  should  be  sent  over  to  his  house  for  a  night's  lodging, 
for  it  was  only  fair  and  just  that  he  should  have  a  share  of  the  same  cake 
his  brother  had  eaten. 

So  the  poor  brother  promised  to  do  what  the  other  wanted,  and  after 
that  the  rich  brother  went  back  home  again. 

Well,  a  year  and  a  day  passed,  and  then,  sure  enough,  who  should  come 
along  that  way  but  both  the  saints  together,  arm  in  arm.  Rap  !  tap  !  tap  ! 
they  knocked  at  the  poor  man's  door,  for  they  thought  that  where  they  had 


had  good  lodging  before  they  could  get  it  again.  And  so  they  could  and 
welcome,  only  the  poor  brother  told  them  that  his  rich  brother  across  the 
street  had  asked  that  they  should  come  and  lodge  at  the  fine  house  when 
they  came  that  way  again. 

The  saints  were  willing  enough  to  go  to  the  rich  brother's  house,  though 
they  would  rather  have  stayed  with  the  other.  So  over  they  went,  and 
when  the  rich  brother  saw  them  coming  he  ran  out  to  meet  them,  and 
shook  each  of  them  by  the  hand,  and  bade  them  to  come  in  and  sit  down 
back  of  the  stove  where  it  was  warm. 

But  you  should  have  seen  the  feast  that  was  set  for  the  two  saints  at 
the  rich  brother's  house !  I  can  only  say  that  I  never  saw  the  like,  and  I 
only  wish  that  I  had  been  there  with  my  legs  under  the  table.  After 
supper  they  were  shown  to  a  grand  room,  where  each  saint  had  a  bed  all  to 


132 


HOW  THE  GOOD  GIFTS  WERE  USED   BY   TWO. 


his  very  own  self,  and  before  they  were  fairly  asleep  the  rich  man's  wife 
came  and.  took  away  their  old  shirts,  and  laid  a  shirt  of  fine  cambric  linen 
in  the  place  of  each.  When  the  next  morning  came  and  the  saints  were 
about  to  take  their  leave,  the  rich  brother  brought  out  a  great  bag  of  golden 
money,  and  bade  them  to  stuff  what  they  would  of  it  into  their  pockets. 

Well,  all  this  was  as  it  should  be,  and  before  the  two  went  on  their  way 
they  said  that  they  would  give  the  same  blessing  to  him  and  his  wife  that 
they  had  given  to  the  other  couple  —  that  whatsoever  they  should  begin 
doing  that  morning,  that  they  should  continue  doing  until  sunset. 

After  that  they  put  on  their  hats  and  took  up  their  staffs,  and  off  they 
plodded. 

Now  the  rich  brother  was  a  very  envious  man,  and  was  not  contented  to 
do  only  as  well  as  his  brother  had  done,  no  indeed !  He  would  do  some- 
thing that  would  make  him  even  richer  than  counting  out  money  for 
himself  all  day.  So  down  he  sat  back  of  the  stove  and  began  turning  the 
matter  over  in  his  mind,  and  rubbing  up  his  wits  to  make  them  the  brighter. 

In  the  meantime  the  wife  said  to  herself,  "  See,  now,  I  shall  be  folding 
fine  cambric  linen  all  day,  and  the  pigs  will  have  to  go  with  nothing  to  eat, 
I  have  no  time  to  waste  in  feeding  them,  but  I'll  just  run  out  and  fill  their 
troughs  with  water  at  any  rate." 

So  out  she  went  with  a  bucketful  of  water  which  she  began  pouring  into 
the  troughs  for  the  pigs.  That  was  the  first  thing  she  did,  and  after  that 
there  was  no  leaving  off,  but  pour  water  she  must  until  sunset. 

All  this  while  the  man  sat  back  of  the  stove,  warming  his  wits  and 
saying  to  himself,  "Shall  I  do  this?  shall  I  do  that?"  and  answering  "No" 
to  himself  every  time.  At  last  "he  began  wondering  what  his  wife  was 
doing,  so  out  he  went  to  find  her.  Find  her  he  did,  for  there  she  was 
pouring  out  water  to  the  pigs.  Then  if  anybody  was  angry  it  was  the  rich 
man.  "  What !"  cried  he,  "  and  is  this  the  way  that  you  waste  the  gifts  of 
the  blessed  saints?"  . 

So  saying,  he  looked  around,  and  there  lay  a  bit  of  a  switch  on  the 
ground  near  by.  He  picked  up  the  bit  of  a  switch  and  struck  the  woman 
across  the  shoulders  with  it,  and  that  was  the  first  thing  that  he  began 
doing.  After  that  he  had  to  keep  on  doing  the  same. 

So  the  woman  poured  water  and  poured  water,  and  the  man  stood  by 
and  beat  her  with  the  little  switch  until  there  was  nothing  left  of  it,  and 
that  was  what  they  did  all  day. 

And  what  is  more,  they  made  such  a  hubbub  that  the  neighbors  came 


HOW  THE  GOOD  GIFTS  WERE   USED   BY  TWO.  133 

to  see  what  was  going  forward.  They  looked  and  laughed  and  went  away 
again,  and  others  came,  and  there  stood  the  two — the  woman  pouring  water 
and  the  man  beating  her  with  the  bit  of  a  switch. 

When  the  evening  came,  and  they  left  off  their  work,  they  were  so  weary 
that  they  could  hardly  stand ;  and  nothing  was  to  show  for  it  but  a  broken 
switch  and  a  wet  sty,  for  even  the  blessed  saints  cannot  give  wisdom  to 
those  who  will  have  none  of  it,  and  that  is  the  truth. 

And  such  is  the  end  of  this  story,  with  only  this  to  tell :  Tommy  Pfouce 
tells  me  that  there  are  folks,  even  in  these  wise  times,  who,  if  they  did  all 
day  what  they  began  in  the  morning,  would  find  themselves  at  sunset  doing 
no  better  work  than  pouring  pure  water  to  pigs. 

That  is  the  small  kernel  to  this  great  nut. 


Eleven  O  clock  • 


Ihe  Cook  u  ndoes  the  Oven  Door ; 

\     The  Kobold  smells  the  baking  Pies ; 

Licking  hisLips  ,with  glistening  Eyes, 
He  hops  across  the  Floor. 


Kep. 


Our  fat,old  Betty  sweats  and  blows ; 
She  does  not  see  how  near  he  stands, 
A  nd  when  she  bangs  the  Door >  Good  * 

It  mOSt  CUtS  off  his  Jvose.  Lands! 


HowBoots  befool- 
ed the  King. 


XL 


NCE  upon  a  time  there  was  a  king  who  was  the  wisest 
in  all  of  the  world.  So  wise  was  he  that  no  one 
had  ever  befooled  him,  which  is  a  rare  thing,  I  can 
tell  you.  Now,  this  king  had  a  daughter  who  was 
as  pretty  as  a  ripe  apple,  so  that  there  was  no  end 
to  the  number  of  the  lads  who  came  asking  to 
marry  her.  Every  day  there  were  two  or  three  of 
them  dawdling  around  the  house,  so  that  at  last 
the  old  king  grew  tired  of  having  them  always  about. 

So  he  sent  word  far  and  near  that  whoever  should  befool  him  might 
have  the  princess  and  half  of  the  kingdom  to  boot,  for  he  thought  that 
it  would  be  a  wise  man  indeed  who  could  trick  him.  But  the  king  also 
said,  that  whoever  should  try  to  befool  him  and  should  fail,  should  have 
a  good  whipping.  This  was  to  keep  all  foolish  fellows  away. 

The  princess  was  so  pretty  that  there  was  no  lack  of  lads  who  came 
to  have  a  try  for  her  and  half  of  the  kingdom,  but  every  one  of  these  went 
away  with  a  sore  back  and  no  luck. 

Now,  there  was  a  man  who  was  well  off  in  the  world,  and  who  had  three 
sons ;  the  first  was  named  Peter,  and  the  second  was  named  -Paul.  Peter 
and  Paul  thought  themselves  as  wise  as  anybody  in  all  of  the  world,  and 
their  father  thought  as  they  did. 


138  HOW   BOOTS   BEFOOLED  THE   KING. 

As  for  the  youngest  son,  he  was  named  Boots.  Nobody  thought  any- 
thing of  him  except  that  he  was  silly,  for  he  did  nothing  but  sit  poking  in 
the  warm  ashes  all  of  the  day. 

One  morning  Peter  spoke  up  and  said  that  he  was  going  to  the  town 
to  have  a  try  at  befooling  the  king,  for  it  would  be  a  fine  thing  to  have 
a  princess  in  the  family.  His  father  did  not  say  no,  for  if  anybody  was 
wise  enough  to  befool  the  king,  Peter  was  the  lad. 

So,  after  Peter  had  eaten  a  good  breakfast,  off  he  set  for  the  town,  right 
foot  foremost.  After  a  while  he  came  to  the  king's  house  and — rap !  tap ! 
tap ! — he  knocked  at  the  door. 

Well ;  what  did  he  want  ? 

Oh  !  he  would  only  like  to  have  a  try  at  befooling  the  king. 

Very  good ;  he  should  have  his  try.  He  was  not  the  first  one  who  had 
been  there  that  morning,  early  as  it  was. 

So  Peter  was  shown  in  to  the  king. 

"  Oh,  look !"  said  he,  "  yonder  are  three  black  geese  out  in  the  court- 
yard !" 

But  no,  the  king  was  not  to  be  fooled  so  easily  as  all  that.  "  One  goose 
is  enough  to  look  at  at  a  time,"  said  he ;  "  take  him  away  and  give  him  a 
whipping!" 

And  so  they  did,  and  Peter  went  home  bleating  like  a  sheep. 

One  day  Paul  spoke  up.  "  I  should  like  to  go  and  have  a  try  for  the 
princess,  too,"  said  he. 

Well,  his  father  did  not  say  no,  for,  after  all,  Paul  was  the  more  clever 
of  the  two. 

So  off  Paul  went  as  merrily  as  a  duck  in  the  rain.  By  and  by  he  came 
to  the  castle,  and  then  he  too  was  brought  before  the  king  just  as  Peter 
had  been. 

"  Oh,  look !"  said  he, "  yonder  is  a  crow  sitting  in  the  tree  with  three 
white  stripes  on  his  back !" 

But  the  king  was  not  so  silly  as  to  be  fooled  in  that  way.  "  Here  is 
a  Jack,"  said  he,  "  who  will  soon  have  more  stripes  on  his  back  than  he 
will  like.  Take  him  away  and  give  him  his  whipping!" 

Then  it  was  done  as  the  king  had  said,  and  Paul  went  away  home 
bawling  like  a  calf. 

One  day  up  spoke  Boots.  "  I  should  like  to  go  and  have  a  try  for  the 
pretty  princess,  too,"  said  he. 

At  this  they  all  stared  and  sniggered.     What !  he  go  where  his  clever 


eter  goes  to  tlje  castle  to  befool 


140 


HOW  BOOTS   BEFOOLED  THE  KING. 


brothers  had  failed,  and  had  nothing  to  show  for  the  trying  but  a  good 
beating  ?  What  had  come  over  the  lout !  Here  was  a  pretty  business,  to 
be  sure !  That  was  what  they  all  said. 

But  all  of  this  rolled  away  from  Boots  like  water  from  a  duck's  back. 
No  matter,  he  would  like  to  go  and  have  a  try  like  the  others.  So  he 
begged  and  begged  until  his  father  was  glad  to  let  him  go  to  be  rid  of  his 
teasing,  if  nothing  else. 

Then  Boots  asked  if  he  might  have  the  old  tattered  hat  that  hung  back 
of  the  chimney. 

Oh,  yes,  he  might  have  that  if  he  wanted  it,  for  nobody  with  good  wits 
was  likely  to  wear  such  a  thing. 

So  Boots  took  the  hat,  and  after  he  had  brushed  the  ashes  from  his 
shoes  set  off  for  the  town,  whistling  as  he  went. 

The  first  body  whom  he  met  was  an  old  woman  with  a  great  load  of 
earthenware  pots  and  crocks  on  her  shoulders. 

"  Good-day,  mother,"  said  Boots. 

"  Good-day,  son,"  said  she. 

"  What  will  you  take  for  all  of  your  pots  and  crocks  ?"  said  Boots. 

'•'  Three  shillings,"  said  she. 

"  I  will  give  you  five  shillings  if  you  will  come  and  stand  in  front  of  the 
king's  house,  and  do  thus  and  so  when  I  say  this  and  that,"  said  Boots. 

Oh,  yes !  she  would  do  that  willingly  enough. 

So  Boots  and  the  old  woman  went  on  together,  and  presently  came  to 
the  king's  house.  When  they  had  come  there,  Boots  sat  down  in  front  of 
the  door  and  began  Bawling  as  loud  as  he  could — "  No,  I  will  not !  I  will 
not  do  it,  I  say !  No,  I  will  not  do  it !" 

So  he  kept  on,  bawling  louder  and  louder  until  he  made  such  a  noise 
that,  at  last,  the  king  himself  came  out  to  see  what  all  of  the  hubbub  was 
about.  But  when  Boots  saw  him  he  only  bawled  out  louder  than  even 
"  No,  I  will  not !  I  will  not  do  it,  I  say !" 

"  Stop  !  stop  !"  cried  the  king, "  what  is  all  this  about?" 

"  Why,"  said  Boots,  "  everybody  wants  to  buy  my  cap,  but  I  will  not 
sell  it !  I  will  not  do  it,  I  say !" 

"  But,  why  should  anybody  want  to  buy  such  a  cap  as  that  ?"  said  the 
king. 

"  Because,"  said  Boots, "  it  is  a  fooling  cap  and  the  only  one  in  all  of 
the  world." 

"  A  fooling  cap !"  said  the  king.     For  he  did  not  like  to  hear  of  such 


aul  cotm0  fyotm  agamfrom 


c 


142  HOW  BOOTS   BEFOOLED  THE  KING. 

a  cap  as  that  coming  into  the  town.  "  Hum-m-m-m !  I  should  like  to  see 
you  fool  somebody  with  it.  Could  you  fool  that  old  body  yonder  with  the 
pots  and  the  crocks  ?" 

"  Oh,  yes !  that  is  easily  enough  done,"  said  Boots,  and  without  more 
ado  he  took  off  his  tattered  cap  and  blew  into  it.  Then  he  put  it  on  his 
head  again  and  bawled  out,  "  Break  pots !  break  pots !" 

No  sooner  had  he  spoken  these  words  than  the  old  woman  jumped  up 
and  began  breaking  and  smashing  her  pots  and  crocks  as  though  she  had 
gone  crazy.  That  was  what  Boots  had  paid  her  five  shillings  for  doing, 
but  of  it  the  king  knew  nothing.  "  Hui !"  said  he  to  himself,  "  I  must 
buy  that  hat  from  the  fellow  or  he  will  fool  the  princess  away  from  me 
for  sure  and  certain."  Then  he  began  talking  to  Boots  as  sweetly  as 
though  he  had  honey  in  his  mouth.  Perhaps  Boots  would  sell  the  hat 
to  him? 

Oh,  no !    Boots  could  not  think  of  such  a  thing  as  selling  his  fooling  cap. 

Come,  come ;  the  king  wanted  that  hat,  and  sooner  than  miss  buying 
it  he  would  give  a  whole  bag  of  gold  money  for  it. 

At  this  Boots  looked  up  and  looked  down,  scratching  his  head.  Well, 
he  supposed  he  would  have  to  sell  the  hat  some  time,  and  the  king  might 
as  well  have  it  as  anybody  else.  But  for  all  that  he  did  not  like  parting 
with  it. 

So  the  king  gave  Boots  the  bag  of  gold,  and  Boots  gave  the  king  the 
old  tattered  hat,  and  then  he  went  his  way. 

After  Boots  had  gone  the  king  blew  into  the  hat  and  blew  into  the  hat, 
but  though  he  blew  enough  breath  into  it  to  sail  a  big  ship,  he  did  not 
befool  so  much  as  a  single  titmouse.  Then,  at  last,  he  began  to  see  that 
the  fooling  cap  was  good  on  nobody  else's  head  but  Boots's ;  and  he  was 
none  too  pleased  at  that,  you  may  be  sure. 

As  for  Boots,  with  his  bag  of  gold  he  bought  the  finest  clothes  that 
were  to  be  had  in  the  town,  and  when  the  next  morning  had  come  he 
started  away  bright  and  early  for  the  king's  house.  "  I  have  come,"  said 
he, "  to  marry  the  princess,  if  you  please." 

At  this  the  king  hemmed  and  hawed  and  scratched  his  head.  Yes ; 
Boots  had  befooled  him  sure  enough,  but,  after  all,  he  could  not  give  up 
the  princess  for  such  a  thing  as  that.'  Still,  he  would  give  Boots  another 
chance.  Now,  there  was  the  high -councillor,  who  was  the  wisest  man  in 
all  of  the  world.  Did  Boots  think  that  he  could  fool  him  also? 

Oh,  yes !  Boots  thought  that  it  might  be  done. 


ol&  too  man  jswagljes  pof<& 

and  tfying  2  at  Boot*'  bibbing .       x 


144 


HOW   BOOTS   BEFOOLED  THE  KING. 


Very  well ;  if  he  could  befool  the  high  -  councillor  so  as  to  bring  him 
to  the  castle  the  next  morning  against  his  will,  Boots  should  have  the 
princess  and  the  half  of  the  kingdom ;  if  he  did  not  do  so  he  should  have 
his  beating. 

Then  Boots  went  away,  and  the  king  thought  that  he  was  rid  of  him 
now  for  good  and  all. 

As  for  the  high -councillor,  he  was  not  pleased  with  the  matter  at  all, 
for  he  did  not  like  the  thought  of  being  fooled  by  a  clever  rogue,  and 
taken  here  and  there  against  his  will.  So  when  he  had  come  home,  he 
armed  all  of  his  servants  with  blunderbusses,  and  then  waited  to  give 
Boots  a  welcome  when  he  should  come. 

But  Boots  was  not  going  to  fall  into  any  such  trap  as  that !  No  in- 
deed !  not  he  !  The  next  morning  he  went  quietly  and  bought  a  fine 
large  meal -sack.  Then  he  put  a  black  wig  over  his  beautiful  red  hair, 
so  that  no  one  might  know  him.  After  that  he  went  to  the  place  where 
the  high-councillor  lived,  and  when  he  had  come  there  he  crawled  inside 
of  the  sack,  and  lay  just  beside  the  door  of  the  house. 

By  and  by  came  one  of  the  maid  servants  to  the  door,  and  there  lay 
the  great  meal-sack  with  somebody  in  it. 

"  Ach  !"  cried  she,  "who  is  there?" 

But  Boots  only  said,  "  Sh-h-h-h-h  !" 

Then  the  serving  maid  went  back  into  the  house,  and  told  the  high- 
councillor  that  one  lay  outside  in  a  great  meal -sack,  and  that  all  that 
he  said  was,  "  Sh-h-h-h-h  !" 

So  the  councillor  went  himself  to  see  what  it  was  all  about.  "  What 
do  you  want  here?"  said  he. 

"  Sh-h-h-h-h !"  said  Boots,  "  I  am  not  to  be  talked  to  now.  This  is 
a  wisdom -sack,  and  I  am  learning  wisdom  as  fast  as  a  drake  can  eat 
peas." 

"And  what  wisdom  have  you  learned?"  said  the  councillor. 

Oh  !  Boots  had  learned  wisdom  about  everything  in  the  world.  He  had 
learned  that  the  clever  scamp  who  had  fooled  the  king  yesterday  was 
coming  with  seventeen  tall  men  to  take  the  high-councillor,  willy-nilly,  to 
the  castle  that  morning. 

When  the  high-councillor  heard  this  he  fell  to  trembling  till  his  teeth 
rattled  in  his  head.  "  And  have  you  learned  how  I  can  get  the  better  of 
this  clever  scamp  ?"  said  he. 

Oh,  yes !  Boots  had  learned  that  easily  enough. 


fye  Cotm  ci  lo  jfinb?  one  m  tfye 

js l)im tot>t>om .    c 


10 


146  HOW   BOOTS  BEFOOLED  THE   KING. 

So,  good !  then  if  the  wise  man  in  the  sack  would  tell  the  high-coun- 
cillor how  to  escape  the  clever  rogue,  the  high-councillor  would  give  the 
wise  man  twenty  dollars. 

But  no,  that  was  not  to  be  done ;  wisdom  was  not  bought  so  cheaply  as 
the  high-councillor  seemed  to  think. 

Well,  the  councillor  would  give  him  a  hundred  dollars  then. 

That  was  good!  A  hundred  dollars  were  a  hundred  dollars.  If  the 
councillor  would  give  him  that  much  he  might  get  into  the  sack  himself, 
and  then  he  could  learn  all  the  wisdom  that  he  wanted,  and  more  besides. 

So  Boots  crawled  out  of  the  sack,  and  the  councillor  paid  his  hundred 
dollars  and  crawled  in. 

As  soon  as  he  was  in  all  snug  and  safe,  Boots  drew  the  mouth  of  the 
sack  together  and  tied  it  tightly.  Then  he  flung  sack,  councillor,  and  all 
over  his  shoulder,  and  started  away  to  the  king's  house,  and  anybody  who 
met  them  could  see  with  half  an  eye  that  the  councillor  was  going  against 
his  will. 

When  Boots  came  to  the  king's  castle  he  laid  the  councillor  down  in  the 
goose-house,  and  then  he  went  to  the  king. 

When  the  king  saw  Boots  again,  he  bit  his  lips  with  vexation.  "  Well," 
said  he,  "have  you  fooled  the  councillor?" 

"  Oh,  yes !"  says  Boots,  "  I  have  done  that." 

And  where  was  the  councillor  now  ? 

Oh,  Boots  had  just  left  him  down  in  the  goose-house.  He  was  tied  up 
safe  and  sound  in  a  sack,  waiting  till  the  king  should  send  for  him. 

So  the  councillor  was  sent  for,  and  when  he  came  the  king  saw  at  once 
that  he  had  been  brought  against  his  will. 

"And  now  may  I  marry  the  princess?"  said  Boots. 

But  the  king  was  not  willing  for  him  to  marry  the  princess  yet ;  no  !  no  ! 
Boots  must  not  go  so  fast.  There  was  more  to  be  done  yet.  If  he  would 
come  to-morrow  morning  he  might  have  the  princess  and  welcome,  but  he 
would  have  to  pick  her  out  from  among  fourscore  other  maids  just  like 
her ;  did  he  think  that  he  could  do  that  ? 

Oh,  yes !  Boots  thought  that  that  might  be  easy  enough  to  do. 

So,  good !  then  come  to-morrow ;  but  he  must  understand  that  if  he 
failed  he  should  have  a  good  whipping,  and  be  sent  packing  from  the  town. 

So  off  went  Boots,  and  the  king  thought  that  he  was  rid  of  him  now,  for 
he  had  never  seen  the  princess,  and  how  could  he  pick  her  out  from  among 
eighty  others  ? 


HOW   BOOTS  BEFOOLED  THE   KING.  147 

But  Boots  was  not  going  to  give  up  so  easily  as  all  that !  No,  not  he ! 
He  made  a  little  box,  and  then  he  hunted  up  and  down  until  he  had  caught 
a  live  mouse  to  put  into  it. 

When  the  next  morning  came  he  started  away  to  the  king's  house, 
taking  his  mouse  along  with  him  in  the  box. 

There  was  the  king,  standing  in  the  doorway,  looking  out  into  the 
street.  When  he  saw  Boots  coming  towards  him  he  made  a  wry  face. 
"What!"  said  he,  "are  you  back  again?" 

Oh,  yes !  Boots  was  back  again.  And  now  if  the  princess  was  ready  he 
would  like  to  go  and  find  her,  for  lost  time  was  not  to  be  gathered  again 
like  fallen  apples. 

So  off  they  marched  to  a  great  room,  and  there  stood  eighty-and-one 
maidens,  all  as  much  alike  as  peas  in  the  same  dish. 

Boots  looked  here  and  there,  but,  even  if  he  had  known  the  princess,  he 
could  not  have  told  her  from  the  others.  But  he  was  ready  for  all  that. 
Before  any  one  knew  what  he  was  about,  he  opened  the  box,  and  out  ran  the 
little  mouse  among  them  all.  Then  what  a  screaming,  and  a  hubbub  there 
was !  Many  looked  as  though  they  would  have  liked  to  swoon,  but  only 
one  of  them  did  so.  As  soon  as  the  others  saw  what  had  happened,  they 
forgot  all  about  the  mouse,  and  ran  to  her  and  fell  to  fanning  her  and 
slapping  her  hands  and  chafing  her  temples. 

"  This  is  the  princess,"  said  Boots. 

And  so  it  was. 

After  that  the  king  could  think  of  nothing  more  to  set  Boots  to  do,  so 
he  let  him  marry  the  princess  as  he  had  promised,  and  have  half  of  the 
kingdom  to  boot. 

That  is  all  of  this  story. 

Only  this:  It  is  not  always  the  silliest  one  that  sits  kicking  his  feet  in 
the  ashes  at  home. 


he/?/cr/marks  the  hour  ofAToon  ; 
The  Afen  will  come  toDinner  soon, 
An&Gretchen  takes  ihe<Beer-Afugs  dov^r 
Into  the  Cellar+cool  and  brown. 


IS  hot  , 

The  Callage  simmers  in 
The  *Mts  tress  scolds  a  clumsy  JVLai 
And  T'o'wi.er  dozes  in  the  Shade  . 


K.P. 


The  Step-mother. 


XII. 


NCE  upon  a  time  there  was  a  man  who  was  well  off  in 
the  world  so  far  as  good  things  were  concerned ;  but 
all  the  flesh  and  blood  that  belonged  to  him  was  a 
daughter,  for  his  wife  was  dead,  and  he  lived  alone. 

One  day  he  went  away  from  home  and  was  gone 
for  a  long,  long  time,  and  when  he  came  back  again 
he  brought  a  new  wife  with  him,  for  that  was  the 
business  that  he  had  been  about.  As  for  the  woman, 

she  was  as  wicked  as  she  was  handsome,  and  as  handsome  as  she  was 
wicked,  and  whichever  of  the  two  one  said  of  her  one  spoke  the  truth ; 
for,  though  she  was  the  most  beautiful  woman  in  all  of  the  land,  she  was 
as  great  a  witch  as  ever  turned  over  the  leaves  of  the  black  book  with 
the  red  letters  in  it. 

At  first  things  went  as  smoothly  in  the  rich  man's  house  as  butter  and 
eggs>  f°r  the  Step -mother  was  forever  petting  and  caressing  the  man's 
daughter,  and  could  not  make  enough  of  her.  But  that  was  only  for  a 
while,  for  as  the  maid  grew  in  years  she  grew  prettier  and  prettier,  until 
there  was  none  like  her  in  all  of  that  land. 

One  day  the  Step-mother  and  the  step-daughter  walked  together  in  the 
fields,  for  it  was  in  the  spring-time,  the  weather  was  pleasant,  and  the  grass 
was  fresh  and  green.     Two  crows  sat  on  a  flowering  thorn. 
"  Look,"  says  one  crow,  "  yonder  go  two  beauties." 


152  THE  STEP-MOTHER. 

"  Yes,"  says  the  other,  "  but  when  you  talk  of  good  looks,  the  old  one 
is  to  the  young  one  as  a  cabbage  is  to  a  rose." 

Then,  "  Caw !  caw !"  they  both  cried,  and  flapped  their  wings  and  flew 
away. 

That  was  what  the  two  crows  said  ;  and  though  the  maiden  knew 
nothing,  the  Step-mother  could  tell  what  passed  between  them  as  well  as 
could  be,  for  she  had  eaten  a  bite  of  the  white  snake,  and  knew  all  that 
the  birds  and  the  beasts  said  to  one  another.  So  her  heart  grew  bitter 
with  hatred  and  envy,  and  she  began  to  cudgel  her  brains  for  some  means 
to  put  the  girl  out  of  the  way.  That  night  she  made  a  ball  of  hollow 
gold  and  wrote  this  and  that  upon  it,  which  nobody  but  herself  could 
read.  The  next  day  she  and  the  girl  walked  in  the  fields  again,  and  when 
nobody  was  near  the  wicked  Step-mother  took  the  golden  ball  out  of  her 
pocket. 

"  See,"  said  she, "  here  is  a  new  plaything  for  you."  She  threw  it  upon 
the  ground,  and  it  rolled  and  rolled  and  rolled,  and,  whether  she  liked  it  or 
not,  the  maiden  had  to  follow  wherever  it  went.  On  and  on  rolled  the  ball, 
for  no  matter  how  fast  the  girl  ran  she  could  not  catch  it.  By  and  by  she 
came  to  a  dark,  lonesome  place,  where  was  a  great,  deep  pit.  Into  the  pit 
rolled  the  golden  ball,  and  the  poor  girl  had  to  follow.  So  into  the  pit  she 
fell,  and  there  she  lay,  for  the  sides  were  as  smooth  as  glass,  and  one  would 
have  to  have  feet  like  a  fly  to  climb  from  the  bottom  to  the  top. 

As  for  the  witch  Step-mother,  she  was  well  content  with  what  she  had 
done,  for  the  two  crows  sat  on  the  thorn-tree.  And — 

"  Look,"  said  the  first, "  yonder  goes  the  beauty." 

"  It  is  the  truth  that  you  speak,"  said  the  second.  "  For  the  other 
followed  the  golden  ball  and  fell  into  the  deep  pit !"  And  then  they 
clapped  their  wings  and  away  they  flew. 

But  the  poor  girl  lay  in  the  deep  pit  all  alone,  and  cried  and  cried. 

Suddenly  a  little  door  opened — click  !  clack  ! — and  there  was  a  little 
grey  man  no  higher  than  a  body's  knee,  but  with  a  long  white  beard  that 
touched  the  ground. 

"  Hi !"  says  he  to  the  step-daughter,  "  and  how  came  you  here  in  the 
pit  ?" 

The  girl  told  him  all  from  beginning  to  end,  and  the  little  man  listened 
to  every  word. 

''  See,  now,"  said  he,  when  she  had  ended  her  story.  "  Since  you  are 
here  in  the  deep  pit  and  cannot  get  out,  you  shall  be  the  queen  of  all  the 


gol&en  ball  incite  o 


x 


154  THE  STEP-MOTHER. 

little  men  like  myself,  and  we  shall  serve  you,  for  you  are  the  most  beautiful 
maiden  that  ever  my  eyes  looked  upon." 

So  there  the  maiden  lived  for  many  a  long  day,  and  the  little  man  and 
others  like  him  brought  her  rich  food  and  wine,  and  covered  all  the  inside 
of  the  pit  with  jewels  and  with  gold,  so  that  it  was  most  splendid  to  see. 
And  every  day  the  maiden  grew  more  and  more  beautiful. 

One  day  the  young  king  of  that  country  went  a-hunting,  and  all  of  his 
court  with  him,  and  four-and-twenty  hounds  besides.  They  came  riding  by 
the  pit  where  the  maiden  sat,  and  there  the  hounds  stopped  and  began  to 
whimper  and  to  howl,  for  they  knew  very  well  that  human  flesh  and  blood 
was  down  below. 

"  Listen  to  the  hounds,"  says  the  king ;  "  there  is  somebody  fallen  into 
the  pit ;  now  who  will  go  down  and  bring  the  unfortunate  up  again  ?" 

At  this  everybody  looked  at  his  neighbor,  but  nobody  said, "  I  will  go." 

"  Very  well,"  said  the  king,  "  then  I  myself  will  go  down  into  the  pit, 
if  no  one  else  dares  to  venture." 

So  the  others  lowered  the  king  into  the  pit,  and  when  he  reached  the 
bottom  you  can  guess  how  he  stared  and  how  he  wondered ;  but  he  had 
no  eyes  for  the  jewels  and  gold  that  covered  the  walls ;  he  had  often  seen 
the  like  of  them,  but  never  in  all  of  his  days  had  he  beheld  such  a  beauty 
as  the  maiden  he  found  there. 

Then  the  people  above  hauled  them  up  together,  and  the  king  set  her 
upon  a  milk-white  horse,  and  then  they  all  rode  away  to  the  palace,  for 
that  was  where  he  was  to  take  her.  There  they  dressed  her  in  splendid 
clothes  and  put  a  golden  crown  upon  her  head,  and  then  she  and  the  king 
were  married.  Around  her  neck  he  hung  a  golden  chain  and  a  locket,  and 
in  the  locket  was  a  picture  of  himself ;  on  her  finger  he  slipped  a  ring,  and 
within  were  secret  words  which  nobody  but  he  and  she  knew. 

One  day  the  wicked  Step-mother  was  walking  in  the  fields,  and  the  two 
crows  sat  on  the  thorn-tree. 

"  Look,"  says  the  first  crow, "  yonder  goes  the  beauty." 

"  Yes,"  says  the  second,  "  but  she  is  only  as  a  cabbage  to  a  rose  when 
compared  to  the  lass  who  followed  the  golden  ball  down  into  the  pit,  and 
who  has  married  the  handsome  young  king  over  at  the  castle  yonder." 

Then,  "  Caw  !  caw !"  they  cried,  and  flapped  their  wings  and  flew  away. 

As  for  the  Step-mother,  her  heart  was  ready  to  burst  with  anger  and 
with  spite.  Home  she  went  and  began  to  think  of  what  she  should  do  to 
put  her  step-daughter  out  of  the  way  again. 


ferns  goetfyboton 

inf  o  %  pitsmfc  bringtf  I)  up  p  maibm. 


156  THE   STEP-MOTHER. 

She  took  some  dough  and  some  feathers,  and  of  them  she  made  an  old 
hen  and  six  chicks.  She  put  them  in  the  oven  and  baked  them,  and  when 
she  drew  them  out  again  they  were  all  of  pure  gold.  But  the  strangest 
of  all  was,  that  when  she  set  them  upon  the  table  the  little  golden  hen 
strutted  and  clucked,  and  the  chicks  cried, "  Peep  !  peep  !"  and  followed  at 
her  heels. 

Then  the  woman  clad  herself  in  a  strange  dress,  so  that  no  one  might 
know  who  she  was.  She  hid  a  long,  keen  silver  pin  in  her  bosom,  and  off 
she  set  for  the  castle  with  the  golden  hen  and  the  golden  chickens  in  a 
basket  wrapped  up  in  a  white  napkin. 

She  set  her  basket  on  the  ground  under  the  palace  window,  and  when 
the  folks  within  saw  the  little  clucking  hen  and  her  chicks,  all  made  of 
pure  gold  that  shone  in  the  sunlight,  they  could  not  look  enough. 

Off  ran  one  and  told  the  queen,  who  came  and  looked  and  looked,  and 
wondered  and  wondered,  until  by  and  by  she  longed  for  the  golden  hen 
and  the  golden  chickens  as  she  had  never  longed  for  anything  in  all  of  her 
life  before.  So  she  called  one  of  her  maids,  and  sent  her  down  to  ask  the 
strange  woman  the  price  of  her  golden  chickens. 

"  Prut !"  says  the  wicked  witch  of  a  Step-mother,  "  who  are  you  that 
you  should  come  to  talk  with  me  ?  If  the  young  queen  would  buy  my 
wares  she  must  come  and  bargain  with  me  herself." 

So  down  went  the  young  queen  to  the  wicked  Step-mother ;  "  And 
what  is  the  price  of  your  hen  and  chicks,  my  good  woman,"  said  she,  for 
she  did  not  know  the  other,  because  of  the  strange  dress  in  which  she 
was  clad. 

"  Oh !  it  is  little  or  nothing  I  ask  for  my  hen  and  chickens,"  said  the 
wicked  Step-mother  to  the  beautiful  queen.  "  If  you  will  give  me  a  kiss 
down  in  the  garden  back  of  the  rose-tree  yonder,  you  may  have  the 
chickens  and  welcome." 

Oh,  yes ;  the  queen  was  willing  enough  to  pay  the  price,  if  that  was  all 
the  woman  wanted.  So  off  they  went  back  of  the  rose-tree,  she  and  the 
Step-mother.  There  the  witch  drew  out  the  silver  pin  from  her  bosom, 
and  as  she  kissed  the  queen  she  thrust  the  pin  deep  into  her  head.  Then 
quick  as  a  wink  the  queen  was  changed  into  a  white  dove  and  flew  away 
over  the  tree-tops. 

Off  went  the  Step-mother,  and  was  as  pleased  with  what  she  had  done 
this  time  as  with  what  she  had  done  that  time  ;  for  the  two  crows  sat  on 
the  thorn-tree,  and  the  first  crow  said  to  the  second  crow,  "  Yonder  goes 


tl)er  brtngtf  I) 

mtecfjief  upon  f  looting  0u«n  bp 
punbrpmagicsptlfo. 


158  THE   STEP-MOTHER. 

the  beauty."  And  the  second  crow  said  to  the  first,  "  Yes,  there  is  none  to 
compare  with  her  now  that  the  young  queen  has  been  changed  to  a  white 
dove. 

At  the  king's  castle  they  hunted  for  the  queen  high,  and  they  hunted 
for  the  queen  low,  but  could  find  neither  thread  nor  hair  of  her.  As  for 
the  white  dove,  it  had  flown  in  at  a  window,  and  there  the  little  cook-boy 
found  it,  and  caught  it  and  sold  it  to  the  cook  for  a  penny.  So  the 
beautiful  white  dove  sat  over  the  kitchen  window,  and  did  nothing  but 
mourn  from  the  dawn  to  the  gloaming. 

One  day  the  folk  in  the  kitchen  were  talking  together.  The  king  was 
lying  sick  abed  and  dying  of  a  broken  heart  because  his  beautiful  young 
queen  was  nowhere  to  be  found.  That  was  what  they  said,  and  the  white 
bird  heard  every  word  of  it. 

The  next  morning  when  they  came  to  the  kitchen  there  was  a  beautiful 
sweet  cake  lying  upon  a  white  napkin,  and  on  the  cake  were  written  these 
words : 

"  Break  this,  my  king,  and  ease  thy  sorrow." 

They  took  the  sweet  cake  to  the  king  where  he  lay,  and  he  broke  it  as 
the  words  told  him  to.  Within  it  he  found  the  ring  which  he  had  given 
to  the  queen,  inside  of  which  were  written  words  which  no  one  but  he  and 
she  knew. 

"Where  did  this  come  from?"  said  he ;  but  nobody  could  tell  him. 

"  Where  the  ring  came  from,"  said  he, "  there  will  the  queen  be  found." 
And  up  he  got  from  his  bed  and  dressed  himself,  and  ate  his  breakfast  with 
a  cheerful  face. 

They  talked  about  what  had  happened  down  in  the  kitchen,  and  the 
white  dove  heard  it  all. 

Next  morning  there,  on  a  fine  linen  napkin,  lay  another  cake  like  the 
first,  and  on  it  was  written : 

"  Break  this,  my  king,  and  be  comforted." 

They  took  it  up  to  the  king  as  they  had  done  the  first.  And  the  king 
snatched  it  like  a  hungry  man.  He  broke  the  cake,  and  there  was  the 
necklace  and  the  locket  that  he  had  given  the  queen. 

"  Where  did  this  come  from  ?"  said  he. 

But  they  could  tell  him  no  more  about  that  than  about  the  other. 

All  the  same,  they  talked  about  it  down  in  the  kitchen,  and  the  white 
dove  heard  what  was  said. 

But  that  night  the  little  cook-boy  hid   in  the  closet  to  watch,  for  he 


wanted  to  see  who  it  was  that  brought  the  cakes  that  they  took  up-stairs 
to  the  king.  So  he  watched  and  watched,  and  by  and  by  the  clock  struck 
twelve.  And  when  the  last  stroke  sounded  the  dove  flew  down  from  over 
the  window,  and  as  soon  as  it  lit  upon  the  floor  it  was  the  white  dove 
no  longer,  but  the  queen  herself.  She  made  a  sweet  cake  of  sugar  and 
of  flour,  and  in  it  she  put  a  feather  as  white  as  silver.  Then  she  became 
the  white  dove  again,  and  flew  back  over  the  window  where  she  had  sat 
before. 

The  next  morning  they  found  the  third  cake  lying  upon  a  white  napkin, 
and  on  the  cake  was  written : 

"  Break  this,  my  king,  for  the  time  has  come." 


160  THE   STEP-MOTHER. 

They  took  it  up  to  the  king'and  he  broke  it,  and  there  was  the  white 
feather. 

Then  the  king  called  everybody  that  was  in  the  castle,  and  asked  each 
one  in  turn  if  he  or  she  could  tell  where  the  sweet  cake  had  come  from. 
But  no ;  nobody  knew,  until  last  of  all  they  questioned  the  kitchen-boy. 

"  Oh,  yes,"  said  he,  "  I  know  who  it  was  that  brought  the  cake.  Last 
night  the  white  dove  in  the  kitchen  flew  down  from  over  the  window  and 
became  the  queen  herself;  she  made  the  sweet  cake  and  laid  it  upon  the 
white  napkin,  for  I  saw  her  do  it  with  my  own  eyes." 

Up  they  brought  the  white  dove  from  the  kitchen,  and  the  king  took 
it  in  his  own  hands  and  held  it  up  to  his  bosom,  and  stroked  it  and 
caressed  it. 

"  If  thou  art  my  queen,"  said  he,  "  why  dost  thou  not  speak  to  me  ?" 

But  the  dove  answered  never  a  word,  and  the  king  stroked  it  and 
stroked  it. 

By  and  by  he  felt  something,  and  when  he  came  to  look  it  was  the  head 
of  the  silver  pin.  He  drew  it  forth,  and  there  stood  the  young  queen  again 
in  her  own  true  shape. 

She  told  everything  that  had  happened  to  her  from  the  first  to  the  last, 
and  how  her  Step-mother  had  treated  her.  Then,  hui !  but  the  king  was 
angry !  He  ?*ent  a  great  lot  of  soldiers  off  to  the  father's  house  to  bring 
the  Step -mother  to  the  castle  so  that  she  might  be  punished  for  her 
wickedness.  But  she  was  not  to  be  caught  as  easily  as  a  sparrow  in  a 
rain-storm;  she  jumped  upon  a  broom  straw,  and  —  puff!  —  away  she  flew 
up  the  chimney,  and  that  was  the  last  that  anybody  saw  of  her  so  far  as 
ever  I  heard. 

But  they  brought  the  father  over  to  the  king's  castle,  where  he  sat  in 
the  warmest  corner  and  had  the  best  that  was  to  be  had. 

That  is  all  of  this  story,  and  if  you  see  a  blind  mouse  run  across  the 
floor  throw  your  cap  over  it  and  catch  it,  for  it  is  yours. 


M 


One  O'clock* 


\eKobold  lies, 

1  t    1  •       f          *     •         r>  pleasant. 

.nd  blinks  his  <ay&r, 
Under  the  Grape-vine  leaves. 
The  Chickens  scratch 
In  asunny  Patch , 
And  the  Sparrows  fight  on  the 

Eaves, 

The  Bee -Hive  hums ; 

The  House  --wife  comes , 
Andlooks  outside  tne  Door . 

The  speckled  Chick       KP 

Hops  in ,  to  pick          ^ des 
The  Crumbs  from  off  the  Floor. 


K.P. 


XIII. 


NCE  upon  a  time   there  was  a  man  whose  name  was 
just  Master  Jacob  and  nothing  more. 

All  that  Master  Jacob  had  in  the  world  was  a 
good  fat  pig,  two  black  goats,  a  wife,  and  a  merry 
temper — which  was  more  than  many  a  better  man 
than  he  had,  for  the  matter  of  that. 

"  See,  now,"  says  Master  Jacob,  "  I  will  drive  the 
fat  pig  to  the   market  to-morrow  ;   who  knows  but 
that  I  might  strike  a  bit  of  a  sale." 

"  Do,"  says  Master  Jacob's  wife,  for  she  was  of  the  good  sort,  and  always 
nodded  when  he  said  "  yes,"  as  the  saying  goes. 

Now  there  were  three  rogues  in  the  town  over  the  hill,  who  lived  in 
plenty ;  one  was  the  priest,  one  was  the  provost,  and  one  was  the  master 
mayor ;  and  which  was  the  greatest  rogue  of  the  three  it  would  be  a  hard 
matter  to  tell,  but  perhaps  it  was  the  priest. 

"  See,  now,"  says  the  priest  to  the  other  two,  "  Master  Jacob,  who  lives 
over  yonder  way,  is  going  to  bring  his  fat  pig  to  market  to-morrow.  If  you 
have  a  mind  for  a  trick,  we  will  go  snacks  in  what  we  win,  and  each  of  us 
will  have  a  rib  or  two  of  bacon  hanging  in  the  pantry,  and  a  string  or  so  of 
sausages  back  in  the  chimney  without  paying  so  much  as  a  brass  button  for 
them." 

Well,  of  course  that  was  a  tune  to  which  the  others  were  willing  to 


164  MASTER  JACOB. 

dance.  So  the  rogue  of  a  priest  told  them  to  do  thus  and  so,  and  to  say 
this  and  that,  and  they  would  cheat  Master  Jacob  out  of  his  good  fat  pig  as 
easily  as  a  beggar  eats  buttered  parsnips. 

So  the  next  morning  off  starts  Master  Jacob  to  the  market,  driving  his 
fat  pig  before  him  with  a  bit  of  string  around  the,  leg  of  it.  Down  he  comes 
into  the  town,  and  the  first  one  whom  he  meets  is  the  master  priest. 

"  How  do  you  find  yourself,  Master  Jacob  ?"  says  the  priest,  "and  where 
are  you  going  with  that  fine,  fat  dog  ?" 

"  Dog !"  says  Master  Jacob,  opening  his  eyes  till  they  were  as  big  and 
as  round  as  saucers.  "  Dog !  Prut !  It  is  as  fine  a  pig  as  ever  came  into 
this  town,  I  would  have  you  know." 

"  What !"  says  the  priest.  "  Do  you  try  to  tell  me  that  that  is  a  pig, 
when  I  can  see  with  both  of  my  ears  and  all  of  my  eyes  that  it  is  a  great, 
fat  dog?" 

"  I  say  it  is  a  pig !"  says  Master  Jacob. 

"  I  say  it  is  a  dog !"  says  the  priest. 

"  I  say  it  is  a  pig !"  says  Master  Jacob. 

"  I  say  it  is  a  dog !"  says  the  priest. 

"  I  say  it  is  a  pig !"  says  Master  Jacob. 

Just  then  who  should  come  along  but  the  provost,  with  his  hands  in  his 
pockets  and  his  pipe  in  his  mouth,  looking  as  high  and  mighty  as  though  he 
owned  all  of  that  town  and  the  sun  and  the  moon  into  the  bargain. 

"  Look,  friend,"  says  the  priest.  "  We  have  been  saying  so  and  so  and 
so  and  so,  just  now.  Will  you  tell  me,  is  that  a  pig,  or  is  it  a  dog  ?" 

"  Prut !"  says  the  provost,  "  how  you  talk,  neighbor !  Do  you  take  me 
for  a  fool  I  should  like  to  know  ?  Why,  it  is  as  plain  as  the  nose  on  your 
face  that  it  is  a  great,  fat  dog." 

"  I  say  it  is  a  pig !"  bawled  Master  Jacob. 

"  I  say  it  is  a  dog !"  says  the  provost. 

"  I  say  it  is  a  pig !"  says  Master  Jacob. 

"  I  say  it  is  a  dog !"  says  the  provost. 

"  I  say  it  is  a  pig !"  says  Master  Jacob. 

"  Come,  come,"  says  the  priest,  "  let  us  have  no  high  words  over  the 
matter.  No,  no ;  we  will  take  it  to  the  mayor.  If  he  says  that  it  is  a  pig 
we  two  will  give  you  ten  shillings ;  and  if  he  says  it  is  a  dog,  you  will  give 
the  animal  to  us  as  a  penance." 

Well,  Master  Jacob  was  satisfied  with  that,  for  he  was  almost  certain 
that  it  was  a  pig.  So  off  they  marched  to  the  mayor's  house.  There  the 


a#f  cr  Jacob  cornet  f o  t  f  oton 

toif  ^  ^10  fine,  fat  pig  anfc  f  ijere 
f  Driest  anb  tlj 


1 66  MASTER  JACOB. 

priest  told  all  about  the  matter,  for  he  was  used  to  talking.  "  And  now," 
says  he,  "  is  it  a  pig,  or  is  it  a  dog?" 

"  Why,"  says  the  mayor,  "  I  wish  I  may  be  choked  to  death  with  a 
string  of  sausages  if  it  is  not  a  dog,  and  a  big  dog  and  a  fat  dog  into  the 
bargain." 

So  there  was  an  end  of  the  matter,  and  Master  Jacob  had  to  march  off 
home  without  his  pig  and  with  no  more  in  his  pockets  than  he  had  before. 
All  the  same,  he  saw  what  kind  of  trick  had  been  played  on  him,  and, 
says  he  to  himself,  "  What  is  sauce  for  the  goose  is  sauce  for  the  gander. 
If  one  can  pipe  another  can  whistle ;  I'll  just  try  a  bit  of  a  trick  myself." 
So  he  went  to  his  wife  and  told  her  that  he  had  a  mind  to  do  thus  and  so, 
and  that  she  must  do  this  and  that ;  for  he  thought  of  trying  his  hand  at  a 
little  trickery  as  well  as  other  folks. 

Now,  as  I  told  you  before,  Master  Jacob  had  two  goats,  both  of  them  as 
black  as  the  inside  of,  your  hat  at  midnight ;  moreover,  they  were  as  like  as 
two  spoons  in  the  same  dish ;  for  no  one  could  have  told  them  apart  unless 
he  had  lived  with  them  year  in  and  year  out,  rainy  weather  and  clear,  as 
Master  Jacob  had  done. 

Well,  the  next  day  Master  Jacob  tied  a  rope  around  the  neck  of  one  of 
the  goats,  took  down  a  basket  from  the  wall,  and  started  off  to  the  town 
over  the  hill,  leading  his  goat  behind  him.  By  and  by  he  came  to  the  mar- 
ket place  and  began  buying  many  and  one  things,  until  his  basket  was  as 
full  as  it  could  hold.  After  a  while  whom  should  he  see  coming  along  but 
the  priest  and  the  provost  and  the  mayor,  walking  arm-in-arm  as  bold  as 
you  please. 

"  Halloa,  Master  Jacob,"  said  they,  "  and  what  have  you  there  ?" 

"The  blessed  saints  only  know  that,"  said  Master  Jacob.  "  It  may  be  a 
black  cat  for  all  that  I  know  ;  it  was  a  black  goat  when  I  left  home  this 
morning." 

And  what  was  Master  Jacob  going  to  do  with  his  little  black  goat? 
That  was  what  they  should  like  to  know. 

"  Oh,"  said  Master  Jacob,  "  I  am  about  to  send  my  little  black  goat  on 
an  errand  ;  if  you  will  wait  you  shall  see  for  yourselves." 

Then  what  did  he  do  but  hang  the  basket  around  the  goat's  neck. 
"  Go  home  to  your  mistress,"  said  he,  "  and  tell  her  to  boil  the  beef  and 
cabbage  for  dinner  to-day ;  and,  stop !  tell  her  to  go  to  Neighbor  Nicho- 
las's house  and  borrow  a  good  big  jug  of  beer,  for  I  have  a  masterful  thirst 
this  morning."  Then  he  gave  the  goat  a  slap  on  the  back,  and  off  it  went 


as  though  the  ground  were  hot  under  it.  But  whether  it  ever  really  went 
home  or  not,  I  never  heard. 

As  for  the  priest,  the  provost,  and  the  mayor,  you  may  guess  how  they 
grinned  at  all  of  this.  Good  land  sake's  alive  !  And  did  Master  Jacob 
really  mean  to  say  that  the  little  black  goat  would  tell  the  mistress  all 
that? 

Oh,  yes ;  that  it  would.  It  was  a  keen  blade,  that  little  black  goat, 
and  if  they  would  only  come  home  with  him,  Master  Jacob  would  show 
them. 

So  off  they  all  went,  Master  Jacob  and  the  priest  and  the  provost  and 
the  mayor,  and  after  a  while  they  came  to  Master  Jacob's  house.  Yes,  sure 
enough,  there 'was  a  black  goat  feeding  in  the  front  yard,  and  how  should 
the  priest  and  the  provost  and  the  mayor  know  that  it  was  not  the  same 


1 68  MASTER  JACOB. 

one  that  they  had  seen  at  the  market-place!  And  just  then  out  came 
Master  Jacob's  wife.  "  Come  in,  Jacob,"  says  she,  "  the  cabbage  and  the 
meat  are  all  ready,  As  for  the  beer,  Neighbor  Nicholas  had  none  to  spare, 
so  I  just  borrowed  a  jugful  of  Neighbor  Frederick,  and  it  is  as  good  as  the 
other  for  certain  and  sure." 

Dear,  dear !  how  the  three  cronies  did  open  their  eyes  when  they  heard 
all  of  this !  They  would  like  to  have  such  a  goat  as  that,  indeed  they  would. 
Now,  if  Master  Jacob  had  a  mind  to  sell  his  goat,  they  would  give  as  much 
as  twenty  dollars  for  it. 

Oh,  no ;  Master  Jacob  could  not  think  of  selling  his  nice  little,  dear  little 
black  goat  for  twenty  dollars. 

For  thirty,  then. 

No ;  Master  Jacob  would  not  sell  his  goat  for  thirty  dollars,  either. 

Well,  they  would  give  as  much  as  forty. 

No ;  forty  dollars  was  not  enough  for  such  a  goat  as  that. 

So  they  bargained  and  bargained  till  the  upshot  of  the  matter  was  that 
they  paid  Master  Jacob  fifty  dollars,  and  marched  off  with  the  goat  as 
pleased  as  pleased  could  be. 

Well,  the  three  rogues  were  not  long  in  finding  out  what  a  trick  had 
been  played  upon  them,  I  can  tell  you.  So,  in  a  day  or  two,  whom  should 
Master  Jacob  see  coming  down  the  road  but  the  priest,  the  provost,  and  the 
master  mayor,  and  anybody  could  see  with  half  an  eye  that  they  were  in  an 
awful  fume. 

"Hi!"  says  Master  Jacob,  "there  will  be  hot  water  boiling  presently." 
In  he  went  to  his  good  wife.  "  Here,"  says  he,  "  take  this  bladder  of  blood 
that  we  were  going  to  make  into  pudding,  and  hide  it  under  your  apron, 
and  then  when  I  do  this  and  that,  you  do  thus  and  so." 

Presently  in  came  the  priest,  the  provost,  and  the  mayor,  bubbling  and 
sizzling  like  water  on  slake  lime.  "  What  kind  of  a  goat  was  that  that  you 
sold  us  ?"  bawled  they,  as  soon  as  they  could  catch  their  breaths. 

"  My  black  goat,"  says  Master  Jacob. 

Then  look !  He  would  run  on  no  errands,  and  would  do  nothing  that 
it  was  told.  It  was  of  no  more  use  about  the  house  than  five  wheels 
to  a  wagon.  Now  Master  Jacob  might  just  go  and  put  his  hat  on 
and  come  along  with  them,  for  they  were  about  to  take  him  away  to 
prison. 

"  But  stop  a  bit,"  says  Master  Jacob.  "  Did  you  say  '  by  the  great  horn 
spoon,'  when  you  told  the  goat  to  do  this  or  that?" 


MASTER  JACOB.  169 

No ;  the  cronies  had  done  nothing  of  the  kind,  for  Master  Jacob  had 
said  nothing  about  a  great  horn  spoon  when  he  sold  them  the  goat. 

"  Why  didn't  you  remind  me  ?"  says  Master  Jacob  to  his  good  wife. 

"  I  didn't  think  of  it,"  says  she. 

"  You  didn't  ?"  says  he. 

"  No,"  says  she. 

"  Then  take  that !"  says  he,  and  he  out  with  a  great  sharp  knife  and 
jabbed  it  into  the  bladder  under  her  apron,  so  that  the  blood  ran  out  like 
everything. 

"  Ugh !"  says  the  good  wife,  and  then  fell  down  and  lay  quite  still,  just 
for  all  the  world  as  though  she  were  dead. 

When  the  three  cronies  saw  this,  they  gaped  like  fish  out  of  water.  Just 
look  now !  Master  Jacob  had  gone  and  killed  his  good  wife,  and  all  for 
nothing  at  all.  Dear,  dear !  what  a  hasty  temper  the  man  had.  Now  he 
had  gotten  himself  into  a  pretty  scrape,  and  would  have  to  go  before  the 
judge  and  settle  the  business  with  him. 

"  Tut !  tut !"  says  Master  Jacob,  "  the  broth  is  not  all  in  the  ashes  yet. 
Perhaps  I  am  a  bit  hasty,  but  we  will  soon  mend  this  stocking." 

So  he  went  to  the  closet  in  the  corner  of  the  room,  and  brought  out  a 
little  tin  horn.  He  blew  a  turn  or  two  over  his  wife,  whereat  she  sneezed, 
and  then  sat  up  as  good  and  as  sound  as  ever. 

As  for  the  priest  and  the  provost  and  the  mayor,  they  thought  that  they 
had  never  seen  anything  so  wonderful  in  all  of  their  lives  before.  They 
must  and  would  have  that  tin  horn  if  it  was  to  be  had ;  now,  how  much 
would  Master  Jacob  take  for  it,  money  down  ? 

Oh,  Master  Jacob  did  not  want  to  part  with  his  horn ;  all  the  same,  if 
he  had  to  sell  it,  he  would  just  as  lief  that  they  should  buy  it  as  anybody. 
So  they  bargained  and  bargained,  and  the  end  of  the  matter  was  that  they 
paid  down  another  fifty  dollars  and  marched  off  with  the  little  tin  horn, 
blowing  away  at  it  for  dear  life. 

By  and  by  they  came  home,  and  there  stood  the  goat,  nibbling  at  the 
grass  in  front  of  the  house  and  thinking  of  no  harm  at  all.  "  So !"  says 
the  provost,  "  was  it  you  that  would  do  nothing  for  us  without  our  saying, 
'  By  the  great  horn  spoon  ?'  Take  that  then !"  And  he  fetched  the 
goat  a  thwack  with  his  heavy  walking- staff  so  that  it  fell  down,  and  lay 
with  no  more  motion  than  a  stone.  "  There,"  says  he,  "  that  business  is 
done  ;  and  now  lend  me  the  horn  a  minute,  brother,  till  I  fetch  him  back 
again." 


170  MASTER  JACOB. 

Well,  he  blew  and  he  blew,  and  he  blew  and  he  blew,  till  he  was  as  red 
in  the  face  as  a  cherry,  but  the  goat  moved  never  so  much  as  a  single  hair. 
Then  the  priest  took  a  turn  at  the  horn,  but  he  had  no  better  luck  than  the 
provost.  Last  of  all  the  mayor  had  a  try  at  it ;  but  he  might  as  well  have 
blown  the  horn  over  a  lump  of  dough  for  all  the  answer  he  had  for  his 
blowing. 

Then  it  began  to  work  into  their  heads  that  they  had  been  befooled 
again.  Phew  !  what  a  passion  they  were  in.  I  can  only  say  that  I  am  glad 
that  I  was  not  in  Master  Jacob's  shoes.  "  We'll  put  him  in  prison  right 
away,"  said  they,  and  off  they  went  to  do  as  they  said. 

But  Master  Jacob  saw  them  coming  down  the  road,  and  was  ready 
for  them  this  time  too.  He  took  two  pots  and  filled  them  with  pitch, 
and  over  the  top  of  the  pitch  he  spread  gold  and  silver  money,  so  that 
if  you  had  looked  into  the  pots  you  would  have  thought  that  there  was 
nothing  in  them  but  what  you  saw  on  the  top.  Then  he  took  the  pots  off 
into  the  little  woods  back  of  the  house.  Now  in  the  woods  was  a  great 
deep  pit,  and  all  around  the  pit  grew  a  row  of  bushes,,  so  thick  that  nothing 
was  to  be  seen  of  the  mouth  of  the  hole. 

By  and  by  came  the  priest  and  the  mayor  and  the  provost  to  Master 
Jacob's  house,  puffing  and  blowing  and  fuming. 

Rap !  rap !  tap !  they  knocked  at  the  door,  but  nobody  was  there  but 
Master  Jacob's  wife. 

Was  Master  Jacob  at  home?  That  was  what  they  wanted  to  know, 
for  they  had  a  score  to  settle  with  him. 

Oh,  Master  Jacob's  wife  did  not  know  just  where  he  was,  but  she 
thought  that  he  was  in  the  little  woods  back  of  the  house  yonder,  gather- 
ing money. 

Phew !  and  did  money  grow  so  near  to  the  house  as  all  that  ?  This  was 
a  matter  to  be  looked  into,  for  if  money  was  to  be  gathered  they  must  have 
their  share.  So  off  they  went  to  the  woods,  hot-foot. 

Yes;  there  was  Master  Jacob,  sure  enough,  and  what  was  more,  he  was 
carrying  two  pots,  one  on  each  arm. 

"  Hi !  Master  Jacob,  and  what  have  you  there?"  said  they. 

"  Oh,  nothing  much,"  says  Master  Jacob. 

Yes;  that  was  all  very  good,  but  they  would  like  to  look  into 
those  pots  that  he  was  carrying ;  that  was  what  the  three  cronies 
said. 

"  Well,"  says  Master  Jacob,  "  you  may  look  into  the  pots  if  you  choose ; 


the  ^aj3fcr  ^apojbloto  anb  bloto 
t  gc  little  fin  trumpet  obtr  f  blach  goat 


172  MASTER  JACOB. 

all  the  same,  I  will  tell  you  that  they  are  both  full  of  pitch,  and  that 
there  is  only  just  a  little  money  scattered  over  the  top. 

Yes,  yes;  that  was  all  very  well,  but  the  three  cronies  knew  the 
smell  of  money  from  the  smell  of  pitch.  See  now,  they  had  been 
fooled  twice  already,  and  were  not  to  be  caught  again.  Now,  where 
did  Master  Jacob  get  that  money,  that  was  what  they  wanted  to 
know. 

"  Oh,"  says  Master  Jacob,  "  I  cannot  tell  you  that ;  if  you  want  to 
gather  money  you  will  have  to  look  for  it  yourselves.  But  you  must  not 
go  too  near  to  those  thick  bushes  yonder,  for  there  is  a  deep  pit  hidden 
there,  and  you  will  be  sure  to  fall  into  it." 

When  the  priest  and  the  provost  and  the  mayor  heard  this,  they  nudged 
one  another  with  their  elbows  and  winked  with  one  eye.  They  knew  how 
much  of  that  cheese  to  swallow.  They  would  just  take  a  look  at  this  won- 
derful pit,  for  they  thought  that  the  money  was  hidden  in  the  bushes  for 
sure  and  certain.  So  off  they  went  as  fast  as  they  could  lay  foot  to  the 
ground. 

"  Just  you  stay  here,"  said  the  priest  to  the  others,  "  while  I  go  and 
see  whether  there  really  is  a  pit  as  he  said."  For  he  thought  to  himself 
that  he  would  go  and  gather  a  pocketful  of  the  money  before  it  would  be 
share  and  share  with  his  comrades.  So,  into  the  thicket  he  jumped,  and — 
plump ! — he  fell  into  the  great,  deep  pit ;  and  there  was  an  end  of  number 
one. 

By  and  by  the  others  grew  tired  of  tarrying.  "I'll  go  and  see  what  he 
is  waiting  for,"  says  the  provost.  For  he  thought  to  himself,  "  He  is  filling 
his  pockets,  and  I  might  as  well  have  my  share."  So,  into  the  thicket  he 
jumped,  and — plump! — he  fell  into  the  great,  deep  pit;  and  there  was  an 
end  of  number  two. 

As  for  the  mayor,  he  waited  and  waited.  "  What  a  fool  am  I,"  said  he 
at  last,  "  to  sit  here  twiddling  my  thumbs  while  the  two  rogues  yonder  are 
filling  their  pockets  without  me.  It  is  little  or  nothing  but  the  scraps  and 
the  bones  that  I  will  come  in  for." 

So  the  upshot  of  the  matter  was  that  he  too  ran  and  jumped  into  the 
thicket,  and  heels  over  head  into  the  great,  deep  pit,  and  there  was  an  end 
of  number  three.  And  if  Master  Jacob  ever  helped  them  out,  you  may 
depend  upon  it  that  he  made  them  promise  to  behave  themselves  in  time 
to  come. 

And  this  is  true  that  I  tell  you  :  it  would  have  been  cheaper  for  them  to 


mcef  g  %  tjjm  nrom'e*  in  f^t  teoo'ZJ^.  c 


174 


MASTER  JACOB. 


have  bought  their  pork  in  the  first  place,  for,  as  it  was,  they  paid  a  pretty 
penny  for  it. 

As  for  Master  Jacob  and  his  good  wife,  they  had  a  hundred  dollars  in 
good  hard  money,  and  if  they  did  not  get  along  in  the  world  with  that,  why 
I,  for  one,  want  nothing  more  to  do  with  them. 


Two  O'clock- 


_  y 


] hey  shake  \h*£reaJ-Crumbs 

Out  of  theDoor , 
They  scrub  the  fable , 

And  sand  the  Floor* 

Clear. 

They  shoo  out  iheCAic 
And  Cats9and  all, 


Ana  play  •with  your  Ball . 


99 


K.P. 


Peterkin  and  the 
Little  GreyHare . 


XIV. 


HERE  was  a  man  who  died  and  left  behind  him  three 
sons,  and  nothing  but  two  pennies  to  each.     So,  as 
there  was  little  to  be  gained  by  scraping  the  dish  at 
home,  off   they  packed   to   the  king's  house,  where 
they  might  find  better  faring.     The  two  elder  lads 
were   smart  fellows  enough ;  as  for  Peterkin,  he  was 
the  youngest — why,  nobody  thought  much  of  him. 
So  off  they  went — tramp  !  tramp  !  tramp  ! — all  three  together.     By  and 
by  they  came  to  a  great  black  forest  where  little  was  to  be  seen  either 
before  or  behind  them. 

There  old  Father  Hunger  met  them,  and  that  was  the  worse  for  them, 
for  there  was  nothing  at  all  to  eat.  They  looked  here  and  there,  and,  after 
a  while,  what  should  they  come  across  but  a  little  grey  hare  caught  in  a 
snare. 

Then,  if  anybody  was  glad,  it  was  the  two  elder  brothers.  "  Here  is 
something  to  stay  our  stomachs,"  said  they. 

But  Peterkin  had  a  soft  heart  in  his  breast.  "  See,  brothers,"  said  he, 
"  look  how  the  poor  thing  turns  up  its  eyes.  Sure  it  would  be  a  pity  to 
take  its  life,  even  though  our  stomachs  do  grumble  a  bit." 

But  the  two  elder  brothers  were  deaf  in  that  ear.  They  had  gone 
without  their  dinners  long  enough,  and  they  were  no  such  foolish  fellows 
as  to  throw  it  away,  now  that  it  had  come  to  them. 

But  Peterkin  begged  and  begged,  until,  at  last,  the  two  said  that  they 
12 


i;8  PETERKIN  AND  THE  LITTLE  GREY   HARE. 

would  let  the  Little  Grey  Hare  go  free  if  he  would  give  them  the  two 
pennies  that  he  had  in  his  pocket. 

Well,  Peterkin  let  them  have  the  pennies,  and  they  let  the  hare  go,  and 
glad  enough  it  was  to  get  away,  I  can  tell  you. 

"  See,  Peterkin,"  it  said,  speaking  as  plainly  as  a  Christian,  "  you  shall 
lose  nothing  by  this.  When  you  are  in  a  tight  place,  whistle  on  your 
fingers — thus — and  perhaps  help  will  come  to  you." 

Then  it  thumped  its  feet  on  the  ground  and  away  it  scampered. 

As  for  Peter's  brothers,  they  laughed  and  laughed.  A  fool  and  his 
money  were  soon  parted,  said  they.  How  could  a  little  grey  hare  help  him, 
they  should  like  to  know? 

After  a  while  they  came  to  the  town,  where  Peterkin's  brothers  took  up 
their  lodgings  at  a  good  inn.  As  for  Peterkin,  he  had  to  go  and  sleep  in 
the  straw,  for  one  cannot  spend  money  and  have  it  both.  So  while  the 
brothers  were  eating  broth  with  meat  in  it,  Peterkin  went  with  nothing. 

"  I  wonder,"  said  he,  "  if  the  Little  Grey  Hare  can  help  me  now."  So 
he  whistled  on  his  fingers,  just  as  it  had  told  him.  - 

Then  who  should  come  hopping  and  skipping  along  but  the  Little  Grey 
Hare  itself.  "  What  do  you  want,  Peterkin  ?"  it  said. 

"  I  should  like,"  said  Peterkin,  "  to  have  something  to  eat." 

"  Nothing  easier  than  that,"  said  the  Little  Grey  Hare ;  and  before  one 
could  wink  twice  a  fine  feast,  fit  for  a  king,  was  spread  out  before  him,  and 
he  fell  to  as  though  he  had  not  eaten  a  bite  for  seven  years. 

After  that  he  slept  like  a  flat  stone,  for  one  can  sleep  well  even  in  the 
straw,  if  one  only  has  a  good  supper  within  one. 

When  the  next  morning  had  come,  the  two  elder  brothers  bought  them 
each  a  good  new  coat  with  brass  buttons.  Peterkin  they  said  would  have 
to  go  as  he  was,  for  patches  and  tatters  were  good  enough  for  such  a  spend- 
thrift. 

But  Peterkin  knew  a  way  out  of  that  hole.  Back  of  the  house  he  went, 
and  there  he  blew  on  his  fingers. 

"  What  will  you  have  ?"  said  the  Little  Grey  Hare. 

"  I  should  like,"  said  Peterkin,  "  to  have  a  fine  new  suit  of  clothes,  so 
that  I  can  go  to  the  king's  house  with  my  brothers  and  not  be  ashamed." 

"  If  that  is  a\\-  that  you  want,"  said  the  Hare,  "  it  is  little  enough  ;"  and 
there  lay  the  finest  suit  of  clothes  that  Peterkin  had  ever  seen,  for  it  was  all 
of  blue  silk  sewed  with  golden  threads.  So  Peterkin  dressed  himself  in  his 
fine  clothes,  and  you  may  guess  how  his  brothers  stared  when  they  saw  him. 


marbdat 

%fine  dotfatfyat  ffye  fare  gabe  ^im. 


I8o  PETERKIN  AND  THE   LITTLE   GREY   HARE. 

Off  they  all  went  to  the  king's  house,  and  there  was  the  king  feeding 
his  chickens ;  for  that  was  all  the  work  he  had  upon  his  hands,  and  an  easy 
life  he  led  of  it.  The  king  looked  at  Peterkin,  and  thought  that  he  had 
never  seen  such  fine  clothes.  Did  they  want  service  ?  Well,  the  king 
thought  that  he  might  give  it  to  them.  The  oldest  brother  might  tend 
the  pigs,  the  second  might  look  after  the  cows.  But  as  for  Peterkin,  he 
was  so  spruce  and  neat  that  he  might  stay  in  the  house  and  open  the  door 
when  folks  knocked.  That  was  what  his  fine  clothes  did  for  him. 

So  Peterkin  had  the  soft  feathers  in  that  nest,  for  he  sat  in  the  warm 
chimney  all  day,  and  had  the  scraping  of  the  pipkins  when  good  things  had 
been  cooked. 

Well,  things  went  quietly  enough  for  a  while,  but  the  elder  brothers 
kept  up  a  great  buzzing  in  their  heads,  I  can  tell  you ;  for  one  does  not 
like  to  see  another  step  in  front  of  one,  and  that  is  the  truth. 

So,  one  day,  who  should  come  to  the  king  but  the  two  elder  brothers. 
Perhaps,  said  they,  the  king  did  not  know  it,  but  there  was  a  giant  over 
yonder  who  had  a  grey  goose  that  laid  a  golden  egg  every  day  of  her  life. 
Now  Peterkin  had  said  more  than  once,  and  over  and  over  again,  that  he 
was  man  enough  to  get  the  grey  goose  for  the  king  whenever  the  king 
wanted  it.  You  can  guess  how  this  tickled  the  king's  ears.  Off  he  sent 
for  Peterkin,  and  Peterkin  came. 

Hui !  how  Peterkin  opened  his  eyes  when  he  heard  what  the  king 
wanted.  He  had  never  said  that  he  could  get  the  giant's  goose ;  he  vowed 
and  swore  that  he  had  not.  But  it  was  to  no  purpose  that  he  talked,  the 
king  wanted  the  grey  goose,  and  Peterkin  would  have  to  get  it  for  him. 
He  might  have  three  days  for  the  business,  and  that  was  all.  Then,  if  he 
brought  the  grey  goose,  he  should  have  two  bags  of  gold  money;  if  he 
did  not  bring  it  he  should  pack  off  to  the  prison. 

So  Peterkin  left  the  king,  and  if  anybody  was  down  in  the  mouth  in 
all  of  the  world  it  was  Peterkin. 

"  Perhaps,"  said  he,  "  the  Little  Grey  Hare  can  help  me."  So  he  blew 
a  turn  or  two  on  his  fingers,  and  the  Little  Grey  Hare  came  hopping  and 
skipping  up  to  him. 

What  wag  Peterkin  in  the  dumps  about  now  ?  That  was  what  it  wanted 
to  know. 

Why,  the  king  wanted  him  to  get  such  and  such  a  grey  goose  from 
over  at  the  giant's  house,  and  Peterkin  knew  no  more  about  it  than  a  red 
herring  in  a  box ;  that  was  the  trouble. 


PETERKIN   AND  THE   LITTLE  GREY   HARE.  181 

"  Oh,  well,"  says  the  Little  Grey  Hare,  "  maybe  that  can  be  cured  ; 
just  go  to  the  king  and  ask  for  this  and  that  and  the  other  thing,  and  we 
will  see  what  can  be  done  about  the  business." 

So  off  went  Peterkin  to  the  king ;  perhaps  he  could  get  the  grey  goose 
after  all,  but  he  must  have  three  barrels  of  soft  pitch,  and  a  bag  of  barley- 
corn, and  a  pot  of  good  tallow. 

The  king  let  him  have  all  that  he  wanted,  and  then  the  Little  Grey 
Hare  took  Peterkin  and  the  three  barrels  of  soft  pitch  and  the  bag  of 
barley-corn  and  the  pot  of  good  tallow  on  its  back,  and  off  it  went  till  the 
wind  whistled  behind  Peterkin's  ears. 

(Now  that  was  a  great  load  for  a  little  grey  hare ;  but  I  tell  the  story 
to  you  just  as  Time's  Clock  told  it  to  me.) 

After  a  while  they  came  to  a  river,  and  then  the  Little  Grey  Hare  said : 

"  Brother  Pike !  Brother  Pike !  Here  are  folks  would  like  to  cross  the 
wide  river." 

Then  up  came  a  great  river  pike,  and  on  his  back  he  took  Peterkin  and 
the  Little  Grey  Hare  and  the  three  barrels  of  pitch  and  the  sack  of  barley- 
corn and  the  pot  of  good  tallow,  and  away  he  swam  till  he  had  brought 
them  from  this  side  to  that. 

(Now  that  was  a  great  load  for  a  river  pike  to  carry ;  but  as  Time's 
Clock  told  the  story  to  me  I  tell  it  to  you.) 

Then  the  Little  Grey  Hare  went  on  and  on  again  until  it  came  to  a 
high  hill,  and  on  the  top  of  the  high  hill  was  a  great  house  ;  that  was 
where  the  giant  lived. 

Then  Peterkin  took  the  soft  pitch  and  made  a  wide  pathway  of  it. 
After  that  he  smeared  his  feet  all  over  with  the  tallow,  so  that  he  stuck 
to  the  soft  pitch  no  more  than  water  sticks  to  a  cabbage  leaf.  Then  he 
shouldered  his  bag  of  barley-corn  and  went  up  to  the  giant's  castle,  and 
hunted  around  and  hunted  around  until  he  had  found  where  the  grey 
goose  was  ;  and  it  was  in  the  kitchen  and  would  not  come  out.  But 
Peterkin  had  a  way  to  bring  it;  he  scattered  the  barley-corn  all  about, 
and  when  the  grey  goose  saw  that,  it  came  out  quickly  enough  and  began 
to  eat  the  grains  as  fast  as  it  could  gobble.  But  Peterkin  did  not  give  it 
much  time  for  this,  for  up  he  caught  it,  and  off  he  went  as  fast  as  he  could 
scamper. 

Then  the  grey  goose  flapped  its  wings  and  began  squalling.  "  Master ! 
master !  Here  I  am  !  here  I  am  !  It  is  Peterkin  who  has  me !" 

Out  ran  the  giant  with  his  great  iron  club,  and  after  Peterkin  he  came 


182  PETERKIN  AND  THE  LITTLE  GREY  HARE. 

as  fast  as  he  could  lay  foot  to  the  ground.  But  Peterkin  had  the  buttered 
side  of  the  cake  this  time,  for  he  ran  over  the  pitch  road  as  easily  as  though 
it  were  made  of  good  stones ;  that  was  because  his  boots  were  smeared  with 
tallow.  As  for  the  giant,  he  stuck  to  it  as  a  fly  sticks  to  the  butter,  so  that 
it  was  very  slow  travelling  that  he  made  of  it. 

Then  the  hare  took  Peterkin  up  on  its  back,  and  away  it  scampered  till 
the  wind  whistled  behind  his  ears.  When  it  had  come  to  the  river  it  said : 

"  Brother  Pike !  Brother  Pike !  Here  are  folks  would  like  to  cross  the 
wide  river." 

Then  the  pike  took  them  on  its  back  and  away  they  went.  But  it  was 
a  tight  squeeze  through  that  crack,  I  can  tell  you,  for  they  had  hardly  left 
the  shore  when  up  came  the  giant,  fuming  and  boiling  like  water  in  the  pot. 

"  Is  that  you,  Peterkin  ?"  said  he. 

"  Yes ;  it  is  I,"  said  Peterkin. 

"  And  did  you  steal  my  grey  goose  ?"  said  the  giant. 

"  Yes ;  I  stole  your  grey  goose,"  said  Peterkin. 

"  And  what  would  you  do  if  you  were  me  and  I  were  you  ?"  said  the 
giant. 

"  I  would  do  what  I  could,"  said  Peterkin. 

After  that  the  giant  went  back  home,  shaking  his  head  and  talking  to 
himself. 

So  the  king  got  the  grey  goose,  and  was  as  glad  as  glad  could  be.  And 
Peterkin  got  the  bags  of  gold,  and  was  glad  also.  Thus  there  were  two  in 
the  world  pleased  at  the  same  time. 

And  now  the  king  could  not  make  too  much  of  Peterkin.  It  was 
Peterkin  here  and  Peterkin  there,  till  Peterkin's  brothers  were  as  sour  as 
bad  beer  over  the  matter. 

So,  one  day,  they  came  buzzing  in  the  king's  ear  again  ;  perhaps  the  king 
did  not  know  it,  but  that  same  giant  had  a  silver  bell,  and  every  time  that 
the  bell  was  rung  a  good  dinner  was  spread  ready  for  the  eating.  Now, 
Peterkin  had  been  saying  to  everybody  that  he  could  get  that  bell  for  the 
king  just  as  easily  as  he  had  gotten  the  grey  goose.  At  this  the  king 
pricked  up  his  ears,  for  it  tickled  them  to  hear  such  talk.  He  sent  for 
Peterkin  to  come  to  him,  and  Peterkin  came.  He  vowed  and  swore  that 
he  had  said  nothing  about  getting  the  giant's  bell.  But  it  was  of  no  use ; 
he  only  wasted  his  breath.  The  king  wanted  the  silver  bell,  and  the  king 
must  have  it.  Peterkin  should  have  three  days  in  which  to  get  it.  If  he 
brought  it  at  the  end  of  that  time,  he  should  have  half  of  the  kingdom  to 


eterlun,tot'ti)  pijdp  of  fi 

cat  cie*  off  rtje  d&  tanf 0  gooi&e*      -c 


1 84  PETERKIN   AND  THE   LITTLE   GREY   HARE. 

rule  over.  If  he  did  not  bring  it  he  should  have  his  ears  clipped ;  so  there 
was  an  end  of  that  talk. 

It  was  a  bad  piece  of  business,  but  off  Peterkin  went  and  blew  on  his 
ringers,  and  up  came  the  Little  Grey  Hare. 

"  Well,"  said  the  Little  Grey  Hare,  "  and  what  is  the  trouble  with  us 
now?" 

Why,  the  king  wanted  a  little  silver  bell  that  was  over  at  the  giant's  house, 
and  he  had  to  go  and  get  it  for  him  ;  that  was  the  trouble  with  Peterkin. 

"  Well,"  says  the  Little  Grey  Hare, "  there  is  no  telling  what  one  can  do 
till  one  tries ;  just  get  a  little  wad  of  tow  and  come  along,  and  we  will  see 
what  we  can  make  of  it." 

So  Peterkin  got  the  wad  of  tow,  and  then  he  sat  him  on  the  Little  Grey 
Hare's  back,  and  away  they  went  till  the  wind  whistled  behind  his  ears. 
When  they  came  to  the  river  the  Little  Grey  Hare  called  on  the  pike,  and 
up  it  came  and  carried  them  over  as  it  had  done  before.  By  and  by  they 
came  to  the  giant's  house,  and  this  time  the  giant  was  away  from  home, 
which  was  a  lucky  thing  for  Peterkin. 

Peterkin  climbed  into  the  window,  and  hunted  here  and  there  till  he 
had  found  the  little  silver  bell.  Then  he  wrapped  the  tow  around  the 
clapper,  but,  in  spite  of  all  that  he  could  do,  it  made  a  jingle  or  two.  Then 
away  he  scampered  to  the  Little  Grey  Hare.  He  mounted  on  its  back, 
and  off  they  went. 

But  the  giant  heard  the  jingle  of  the  little  silver  bell,  and  home  he  came 
as  fast  as  his  legs  could  carry  him. 

He  hunted  here  and  there  till  he  found  the  track  of  Peterkin,  then  after 
him  he  went,  three  miles  at  a  step. 

When  he  came  to  the  river,  there  was  Peterkin,  just  out  of  harm's  way. 

"  Is  that  you,  Peterkin  ?"  bawled  the  giant. 

"  Yes  ;  it  is  I,"  said  Peterkin. 

"  And  have  you  stolen  my  silver  bell  ?"  said  the  giant. 

"•Yes ;  I  have  stolen  your  silver  bell,"  said  Peterkin. 

"  And  have  you  stolen  my  grey  goose  too  ?"  said  the  giant. 

Yes ;  Peterkin  had  stolen  that  too. 

"  And  what  would  you  do  if  you  were  me  and  I  were  you  ?"  said  the 
giant. 

"  I  would  do  what  I  could,"  said  Peterkin. 

At  this  the  giant  went  back  home,  grumbling  and  muttering  to  himself, 
and  if  Peterkin  had  been  by  it  would  have  been  bad  for  Peterkin. 


1 86  PETERKIN  AND  THE   LITTLE  GREY   HARE. 

Dear,  dear  !  but  the  king  was  glad  to  get  the  silver  bell ;  as  for  Peterkin, 
he  was  a  great  man  now,  for  he  ruled  over  half  of  the  kingdom. 

But  now  the  two  elder  brothers  were  less  pleased  than  ever  before ;  they 
grumbled  and  talked  together  until  the  upshot  of  the  matter  was  that  they 
went  to  the  king  for  the  third  time.  Peterkin  had  been  bragging  and  talk- 
ing again.  This  time  he  had  said  that  the  giant  over  yonder  had  a  sword 
of  such  a  kind  that  it  gave  more  light  in  the  dark  than  fourteen  candles, 
and  that  he  could  get  the  sword  as  easily  as  he  had  gotten  the  grey  goose 
and  the  little  silver  bell. 

After  that  nothing  would  satisfy  the  king  but  for  Peterkin  to  go  and 
get  the  sword.  Peterkin  argued  and  talked,  and  talked  and  argued,  but  it 
was  for  no  good ;  he  might  have  talked  till  the  end  of  all  things.  The 
king  wanted  the  sword,  and  the  king  must  have  it.  If  Peterkin  could  bring 
it  to  him  in  three  days'  time  he  might  have  the  princess  for  his  wife ;  if  he 
came  back  empty-handed  he  should  have  a  good  thong  of  skin  cut  off  of  his 
back  from  top  to  bottom ;  that  was  what  the  king  said. 

So  there  was  nothing  for  it  but  for  Peterkin  to  whistle  on  his  fingers  for 
the  Little  Grey  Hare  once  more. 

"  And  what  is  it  this  time  ?"  said  the  Little  Grey  Hare. 

Why,  the  king  wanted  such  and  such  a  kind  of  sword,  and  Peterkin  must 
go  and  get  it  for  him  ;  that  was  the  trouble. 

Well,  well ;  there  might  be  a  hole  in  this  hedge  as  well  as  another. 
But  this  time  Peterkin  must  borrow  one  of  the  princess's  dresses  and  her 
golden  comb ;  then  one  might  see  what  could  be  done. 

So  Peterkin  went  to  the  king  and  said  that  he  must  have  the  dress  and 
the  comb,  and  the  king  let  him  have  them.  Then  he  mounted  on  the  Lit- 
tle Grey  Hare  and — whisk  ! — away  they  went  as  fast  as  before. 

Well,  they  crossed  the  river  and  came  to  the  giant's  house  once  more. 
There  Peterkin  dressed  himself  in  the  princess's  dress,  and  combed  his  hair 
with  her  golden  comb ;  and  as  he  combed  his  hair  it  grew  longer  and  longer, 
and  the  end  of  the  matter  was  that  he  looked  for  all  the  world  like  as  fine 
and  strapping  a  lass  as  ever  a  body  saw.  Then  he  went  up  to  the  giant's 
house,  and — rap  !  tap  !  tap  ! — he  knocked  at  the  door  as  bold  as  brass.  The 
giant  was  in  this  time,  and  he  came  and  opened  the  door  himself.  But 
when  he  saw  what  he  thought  was  a  fine  lass,  he  smiled  as  though  he  had 
never  eaten  anything  in  all  his  life  but  soft  butter. 

Perhaps  the  pretty  lass  would  come  in  and  sit  down  for  a  bit ;  that  was 
what  he  said  to  Peterkin. 


Pctcrfetn  as  aflirl  comb#  %  (Bianf '#  {jair 


Oh,  yes !  that  suited  Peterkin ;  of  course  he  would  come  in.  So  in  he 
came,  and  then  he  and  the  giant  sat  down  to  supper  together.  After  they 
had  eaten  as  much  as  they  could  the  giant  laid  his  head  in  Peterkin's  lap, 
and  Peterkin  combed  his  hair  and  combed  his  hair,  until  he  fell  fast  asleep 
and  began  to  snore  so  that  he  made  the  cinders  fly  up  the  chimney. 

Then  Peterkin  rose  up  softly  and  took  down  the  Sword  of  Light  from 
the  wall.  After  that  he  went  out  on  tiptoes  and  mounted  the  Little  Grey 
Hare,  and  away  they  went  till  the  chips  flew  behind  them. 

By  and  by  the  giant  opened  his  eyes  and  saw  that  Peterkin  was  gone, 
and,  what  was  more,  his  Sword  of  Light  was  gone  also.  Then  what  a  rage 
he  was  in !  Off  he  went  after  Peterkin  and  the  Little  Grey  Hare,  seven 


1 88  PETERKIN  AND  THE   LITTLE  GREY   HARE. 

miles  at  a  step.  But  he  was  just  a  little  too  late,  though  there  was  no 
room  to  spare  between  Peterkin  and  him,  and  that  is  the  truth. 

"  Is  that  you,  Peterkin  ?"  said  he. 

"  Yes ;  it  is  I,"  said  Peterkin. 

"  And  have  you  stolen  my  Sword  of  Light  ?"  said  the  giant. 

Oh,  yes  ;  Peterkin  had  done  that. 

"  And  what  would  you  do  if  you  were  me  and  I  were  you  ?"  said  the  giant. 

"  I  would  drink  the  river  dry  and  follow  after,"  said  Peterkin. 

"  That  is  good,"  said  the  giant.  So  he  laid  himself  down  and  drank  and 
drank  and  drank,  until  he  drank  so  much  that  he  burst  with  a  great  noise, 
and  there  was  an  end  of  him  ! 

The  king  was  so  pleased  with  the  Sword  of  Light  that  it  seemed  as 
though  he  could  not  look  at  it  and  talk  about  it  enough.  As  for  Peterkin, 
he  got  the  princess  for  his  wife,  and  that  pleased  him  also,  you  may  be  sure. 
The  princess  was  pleased  too,  for  Peterkin  was  a  good,  smart,  tight  bit  of  a 
lad,  and  that  is  what  the  girls  like.  So  it  was  that  everybody  was  pleased 
except  the  two  elder  brothers,  who  looked  as  sour  as  green  gooseberries. 
But  now  Peterkin  was  an  apple  that  hung  too  high  for  them  to  reach,  and 
so  they  had  to  let  him  alone. 

The  next  day  after  the  wedding,  whom  should  Peterkin  come  across  but 
the  Little  Grey  Hare. 

"  See,  Peterkin,"  it  said,  "  I  have  done  much  for  you  ;  will  you  do  a  little 
for  me  ?" 

"  Yes,  indeed,  that  I  will,"  said  Peterkin. 

"  Then  take  the  Sword  of  Light  and  cut  off  my  head  and  feet,"  said  the 
Little  Grey  Hare. 

No,  no;  Peterkin  could  never  do  such  a  thing  as  that;  that  would  be  a 
pretty  way  to  treat  a  good  friend. 

But  the  Little  Grey  Hare  begged  and  begged  and  begged,  until  at  last 
Peterkin  did  as  he  asked ;  he  cut  off  his  head  and  his  feet.  Then  who 
should  stand  before  him  but  a  handsome  young  prince,  with  yellow  hair  and 
blue  eyes.  That  was  what  the  Little  Grey  Hare  had  been  all  the  time,  only 
the  giant  had  bewitched  him. 

As  for  Peterkin — well,  this  is  the  way  of  it ;  the  youngest  will  step  ahead 
of  the  others  sometimes. 


Three  O'clock- 


Make 
hay. 


ie  Peddler- Man  is  at 

the  Door ; 
It's  Weeks  since  he  was 

here  before* 
He  gives  our  little  JoAn 

And  says  he  is  a  fine , 


The  A/fistress  buys  some 
Flower  Seeds , 

And  Gretchen  gets  some 
Pins  and. 


K.P. 


Mother 
Hildegarde. 


XV. 


NCE  upon  a  time  there  lived  a  king  who  had  an  only 
daughter,  and  the  princess  was  more  handsome  than  I 
can  tell  you.  But  the  queen  had  been  dead  for  so 
long  that  the  king  began  to  think  about  marrying 
a  second  time.  So  the  upshot  of  the  matter  was 
that  by  and  by  there  came  a  step -mother  into  the 
house,  and  a  step  -  sister  besides,  for  the  new  queen 
had  a  daughter  of  her  own.  And  that  was  a  sor- 
rowful thing  for  the  princess. 

At  first  the  new  queen  was  kind  enough  to  the  poor  girl ;  but  before 
long  there  were  other  cakes  baking  in  that  oven,  for  the  step -mother 
began  saying  to  herself :  "  See,  now,  if  this  hussy  were  out  of  the  way 
my  own  dear  girl  would  be  the  first  in  the  land,  and  might,  in  time, 
have  the  kingdom  for  her  very  own."  So,  in  the  end,  the  poor  princess 
found  but  little  peace  in  the  same  house  with  the  woman  and  her 
daughter. 

One  day  the  step-mother,  the  step-sister,  and  the  pretty  princess  sat 
together  in  the  castle  garden  beside  a  deep  cistern  of  water.  By  the  cis- 
tern hung  a  silver  cup  for  the  use  of  those  who  wished  to  drink.  And  as 
they  sat  there  the  princess  grew  thirsty,  and  would  have  taken  the  cup  to 
quench  her  thirst,  but  the  step-mother  stopped  her. 


192  MOTHER   HILDEGARDE. 

"  See,  now,"  said  she,  "  if  you  must  drink  you  will  have  to  stoop  to  the 
water,  for  the  silver  cup  is  too  good  for  such  as  you." 

"Alas!"  said  the  poor  princess,  "  the  time  was  when  a  cup  of  gold  was 
not  too  good  for  me !"  And  thereupon  she  began  to  weep  as  though  her 
heart  would  break.  But  there  was  no  help  for  it ;  if  she  would  drink  she 
must  stoop  for  it ;  so  down  she  knelt  and  began  to  drink  from  the  deep 
water  without  any  thought  or  fear  of  harm. 

But  as  the  princess  thus  stooped  and  drank,  the  wicked  step-mother 
came  behind  her  without  her  knowing  it,  and  gave  her  a  push  so  that 
she  fell  headlong  into  the  cistern  and  sank  to  the  bottom.  After 
that  the  step -mother  and  the  step -sister  went  back  to  the  castle  again, 
rejoicing  and  thinking  that  now  they  were  rid  of  the  princess  for  good 
and  all,  and  that  the  step -sister  would  be  the  first  in  all  of  the 
land. 

But  in  this  they  counted  black  chicks  before  they  were  hatched ;  for 
when  the  princess  sank  down  to  the  bottom  of  the  cistern,  she  found  herself 
in  a  great  wide  meadow,  all  covered  ov.er  with  bright  flowers,  as  many  as 
there  are  stars  in  the  sky  at  night. 

Across  this  meadow  she  went  on  and  on  and  on  ;  but  never  a  single  soul 
did  she  see  until  at  last  she  came  to  a  great,  fine  house  that  stood  all  alone 
by  itself,  without  another  to  be  seen,  near  or  afar.  In  the  doorway  of  the 
house  stood  an  old  woman,  whom  the  princess  saw  very  plainly  was  not 
like  common  folk. 

And  she  was  right,  for  the  old  woman  was  none  other  than  Mother 
Hildegarde,  who  is  so  wise  that  she  knows  almost  as  much  as  Father  Time 
himself.  Thus  it  was  that  she  knew  all  about  the  princess,  and  who  she 
was  and  whence  she  came,  without  the  asking.  "  Listen,"  said  she,  "  I  will 
give  you  food  and  lodging,  and  will  pay  you  well  if  you  will  serve  me  faith- 
fully for  the  space  of  a  year  and  a  day." 

That  the  princess  was  willing  enough  to  do,  for  she  was  both  tired  and 
hungry;  so  into  the  house  she  went  to  serve  Mother  Hildegarde  for  a  year 
and  a  day. 

But  it  was  no  common  work  that  the  princess  did,  I  can  tell  you ;  for 
listen :  When  she  blew  the  bellows  that  the  fire  might  blaze  the  brighter, 
the  wind  swept  over  the  great  brown  world  so  that  every  windmill  turned 
around  and  around  from  Jacob  Pfennigdrummel's  to  the  shores  of  the  great 
black  sea  at  the  north  end  of  the  earth ;  and  when  she  sprinkled  the  clothes, 
the  blessed  rain  came  tumbling  down  till  all  the*gutters  ran  with  water  so 


into  a 

toonderf ul  count r^  anti  to  %  Ijoujse 
ft  of  arrange  olotooman. 


I94  MOTHER   HILDEGARDE. 

that  little  folk  had  either  to  stay  home  from  school  or  to  go  thither  under 
great,  wide  umbrellas. 

But  of  all  this  the  pretty  princess  knew  nothing  whatever,  but  only 
thought  that  she  blew  the  fire  and  sprinkled  the  clothes.  And  that  is  often 
the  way  of  the  world — at  least,  so  Tommy  Pfouce  tells  me. 

Well,  one  day  Mother  Hildegarde  said  to  the  princess:  "See,  now;  I 
am  going  off  on  a  journey,  and  it  may  be  a  while  before  I  am  back  again. 
Here  are  the  keys  of  all  of  the  house,  and  you  are  free  to  go  wherever  you 
choose.  Only  here  is  a  black  key  that  unlocks  a  little  room  into  which 
you  must  not  go ;  for  if  you  do  I  will  be  sure  to  know  it,  and  ill-luck  will  be 
certain  to  happen  to  you."  Then  off  she  went,  and  the  princess  was  left 
all  alone. 

The  first  day  the  lass  went  here,  and  the  second  day  she  went  there, 
and  the  third  day  she  had  gone  everywhere  except  into  the  little  room 
where  Mother  Hildegarde  had  told  her  not  to  go ;  and  she  never  wanted 
anything  in  all  of  her  life  as  much  as  she  wanted  just  to  peep  into  that  lit- 
tle room. 

"  I  wonder,"  said  she  to  herself — "  I  wonder  what  harm  there  could  be 
in  it  if  I  were  only  to  take  one  little  peep  ?"  So  the  upshot  of  the  matter 
was  that  she  went  there  just  to  look  at  the  outside  of  the  door. 

"  I  wonder,"  said  she,  "  if  the  key  will  fit  the  lock?" 

Yes ;  it  did  fit  it. 

"  I  wonder,"  said  she,  "  if  the  key  will  turn  the  bolt  ?" 

Yes;  it  did  turn  it. 

"  I  wonder,"  said  she,  "  whether  it  would  do  any  harm  just  to  peep  into 
the  room  ?" 

And  she  did  peep  into  it. 

Believe  me  or  not,  all  the  same  I  tell  you  the  truth  when  I  say  that  there 
was  not  one  thing  in  the  room  but  a  covered  jar,  that  stood  in  the  middle 
of  the  floor.  Of  course  the  princess  must  have  just  one  peep  into  the  jar, 
for  as  she  had  gone  as  far  as  she  had,  there  could  be  no  more  harm  in  this 
than  in  the  other.  So  she  went  to  the  jar  and  took  off  the  lid  and  peeped 
into  it. 

And  what  do  you  think  was  in  it  ?     Nothing  but  water ! 

But  as  the  princess  looked  into  the  water  she  saw  Mother  Hildegarde 
as  though  she  were  a  great  way  off,  and  the  Mother  Hildegarde  whom  she 
saw  in  the  water  was  looking  at  nobody  in  all  of  the  world  but  her.  As 
soon  as  the  princess  saw  what  she  saw,  she  clapped  down  the  lid  of  the  jar 


P  juices  look*  info  that 


196  MOTHER   HILDEGARDE. 

again ;  but  she  clapped  it  down  just  a  moment  too  late,  for  a  lock  of  hair 
fell  down  over  her  face,  and  one  single  hair  touched  the  water  in  the  jar. 

Yes ;  only  one  single  hair.  But  when  the  princess  looked  she  saw  that 
every  lock  upon  her  head  was  turned  to  pure  gold.  Then  if  anybody  in  all 
of  the  world  was  frightened  it  was  the  poor  princess.  She  twisted  up  the 
hair  upon  the  top  of  her  head  and  bound  her  kerchief  about  it  so  that  it 
was  all  hidden ;  but  all  the  same  the  hair  was  there,  and  could  never  be 
changed  from  the  gold  again. 

Just  then  who  should  come  walking  into  the  house  but  Mother  Hilde- 
garde  herself.  "  Have  you  obeyed  all  that  I  have  told  you  ?"  said  she. 

"  Yes,"  said  the  princess,  but  all  the  same  she  was  so  frightened  that  her 
knees  knocked  together. 

"  Did  you  go  into  the  little  room  ?"  said  Mother  Hildegarde. 

"  No,"  said  the  princess ;  but  her  heart  beat  so  that  she  could  hardly 
speak. 

Then  Mother  Hildegarde  snatched  the  kerchief  off  of  the  princess's 
head,  and  her  golden  hair  came  tumbling  down  all  about  her  shoulders, 
glittering,  so  that  it  was  the  finest  sight  that  you  could  see  between  here 
and  Nomansland. 

"  Then  how  came  your  hair  to  be  like  that?"  said  Mother  Hildegarde. 

"  I  do  not  know,"  said  the  princess ;  and  then  she  began  crying  and  sob- 
bing as  though  her  heart  would  break. 

"  See  now,"  said  Mother  Hildegarde;  "  you  have  served  me  well  for  all  of 
the  time  that  you  have  been  with  me,  therefore  I  will  have  pity  upon  you, 
only  you  must  tell  me  the  truth.  Did  you  go  into  the  little  room  while  I 
was  away  ?" 

But  for  all  that  Mother  Hildegarde  spoke  ever  so  kindly  the  princess 
could  not  bring  herself  to  speak  the  truth. 

"  No,"  said  she. 

"Then  how  came  your  hair  to  be  like  that?"  said  Mother  Hildegarde. 

"  I  do  not  know,"  said  the  princess. 

At  this  Mother  Hildegarde  frowned  till  her  eyes  burned  like  sparks  of 
fire.  She  caught  the  princess  by  the  arm  and  struck  her  staff  upon  the 
ground,  and  away  they  flew  through  the  air  till  the  wind  whistled  behind 
them.  '  So  by  and  by  they  came  to  a  great  forest,  out  of  which  there  was  no 
path  to  be  found  either  to  the  east  or  the  west  or  the  north  or  the  south. 

"  See  now,"  said  Mother  Hildegarde,  "  because  you  have  been  faithful  in 
your  labor  with  me  I  will  give  you  still  another  chance.  But  if  you  do  not 


I98  MOTHER   HILDEGARDE. 

answer  me  truthfully  this  time,  I  will  leave  you  alone  here  in  the  forest,  and 
will  take  away  your  speech  so  that  you  will  be  as  dumb  as  the  beasts  of  the 
field.  Did  you  go  into  the  little  room?" 

But  still  the  princess  hardened  her  heart  and  answered  "  No." 

"  Then  how  came  your  hair  to  be  like  that?"  said  Mother  Hildegarde. 

"  I  do  not  know,"  said  the  princess. 

Then  Mother  Hildegarde  went  away,  and  left  the  princess  alone  in  the 
forest  as  she  had  promised  to  do ;  and  not  only  that,  but  she  took  away  the 
princess's  speech,  so  that  she  was  quite  dumb.  So  in  the  forest  the  princess 
dwelt  for  a  long,  long  time,  and  there  she  would  have  died  of  hunger,  only 
that  Mother  Hildegarde  still  cared  for  her  and  sent  the  wood-pigeons  to 
feed  her,  which  they  did  from  day  to  day  and  from  week  to  week  and  from 
month  to  month.  As  for  the  princess,  she  lived  in  the  branches  of  the 
trees,  for  she  was  afraid  of  the  wild  beasts  that  roamed  through  the  wood. 

By  and  by  her  clothes  became  nothing  but  rags  and  tatters,  and  then  she 
had  to  weave  her  beautiful  hair  about  her,  so  that  she  was  clad  all  from 
head  to  foot  in  her  golden  tresses,  and  in  them  alone. 

Well,  one  time  it  happened  that  a  young  king  came  riding  into  the 
forest  to  hunt  the  wild  boars,  and  many  of  his  people  came  along  with  him. 
Some  of  those  who  rode  on  before  came  suddenly  to  where  a  great  flock 
of  wood-pigeons  flew  about  in  the  tree-tops  above  them.  But  when  they 
looked  up,  you  may  guess  how  wonder-struck  they  were  when  they  saw  that 
the  pigeons  were  feeding  a  beautiful  maiden  who  sat  in  the  branches  above, 
clad  all  in  her  golden  hair.  Back  they  rode  to  the  young  king  and  told  him 
all  that  they  had  seen,  and  up  he  came  as  fast  as  he  could  ride.  There  he 
saw  the  maiden  and  how  beautiful  she  was,  and  he  called  to  her  to  come 
down.  But  she  only  shook  her  head,  for  she  could  not  speak,  and  she 
was  ashamed  of  being  found  where  she  was.  Then  the  young  king,  seeing 
that  she  would  not  come  down  from  the  branches  to  him,  climbed  up 
himself  and  brought  her. 

He  wrapped  his  cloak  about  her  and  set  her  on  his  horse  in  front  of 
him,  and  then  he  and  all  that  were  with  him  rode  away  out  of  the  dark 
forest  and  under  the  blue  sky,  until  they  had  come  to  the  king's  castle. 
But  all  the  time  the  princess  did  nothing  but  weep  and  weep,  for  she 
could  not  speak  a  single  word.  The  young  king  gave  her  to  his  mother 
to  care  for,  who  was  none  too  glad  to  have  such  a  dumb  maiden  brought 
into  the  house,  even  though  the  lass  was  as  pretty  as  milk  and  rose-leaves. 

But  the  young  king  cared  nothing  whatever  for  what  his  raother  thought 


otfyet  J^ilbegatbe  carries  ye 
babp  atoap  from  ttye  cattle  of  % 


200  MOTHER  HILDEGARDE. 

about  the  matter,  for  the  more  he  looked  at  the  princess,  the  more  beautiful 
she  appeared  in  his  eyes.  So  the  end  of  the  matter  was  that  he  married 
her,  even  though  she  had  not  a  word  to  say  for  herself. 

Well,  time  went  on  and  on,  till  one  day  the  storks  that  lived  on  the 
castle  roof  brought  a  baby  boy  to  the  poor  dumb  princess,  whereat  every- 
body was  as  glad  as  glad  could  be. 

But  their  gladness  was  soon  changed  to  sadness,  for  that  night,  when 
every  one  in  the  king's  house  was  fast  and  sound  asleep,  Mother  Hilde- 
garde  came  softly  into  the  princess's  room.  She  gave  her  back  her  speech 
for  the  time  being,  and  then  she  said.  "  I  will  still  have  pity  upon  you. 
If  you  will  only  tell  me  the  truth  you  shall  have  your  speech  again,  and 
all  will  go  well  with  you.  But  if  you  tell  me  a  falsehood  once  more,  still 
greater  troubles  will  come  upon  you.  Now  tell  me,  did  you  go  into  the 
little  room?" 

"  No,"  said  the  princess,  for  still  she  could  not  bring  herself  to  confess 
to  Mother  Hildegarde. 

"  Then  how  came  your  hair  to  be  like  that  ?" 

"  I  do  not  know,"  said  the  princess. 

So  Mother  Hildegarde  took  away  her  speech  once  more. 

After  that  she  smeared  the  mouth  of  the  princess  with  blood,  and  then, 
wrapping  the  baby  in  her  mantle,  she  carried  it  away  with  her,  leaving  the 
mother  weeping  alone. 

You  can  guess  what  a  hubbub  there  was  the  next  morning  in  the  castle, 
when  they  came  and  found  that  the  baby  was  gone,  and  that  the  princess's 
mouth  was  smeared  with  blood.  "  See,"  said  the  king's  mother,  "  what  did 
I  tell  you  from  the  very  first.  Do  you  not  see  that  you  have  brought  a 
wicked  witch  into  the  house,  and  that  she  has  killed  her  own  child  ?" 

But  the  king  would  listen  to  no  such  words  as  these,  for  it  seemed  to 
him  that  the  princess  was  too  beautiful  and  too  good  to  do  such  a  wicked 
thing. 

After  a  time  there  came  another  baby  to  the  princess,  and  once  more 
Mother  Hildegarde  came  to  her  and  said,  "  Did  you  go  into  the  little 
room  ?" 

"  No,"  said  the  princess. 

" Then  how  came  your  hair  to  be  like  that?" 

"  I  do  not  know,"  said  the  princess. 

So  Mother  Hildegarde  took  this  baby  away  as  she  had  done  the  other, 
and  left  the  princess  with  her  lips  smeared  with  blood. 


MOTHER   HILDEGARDE.  2OI 

And  now  every  one  of  the  king's  household  began  to  mutter  and  to 
whisper  to  his  neighbor,  and  the  king  had  nothing  to  say,  but  only  left 
the  room  silently,  for  his  heart  was  like  heavy  lead  within  his  breast. 
Still  he  would  not  hear  of  harm  coming  to  the  princess,  no  matter  what 
had  happened. 

In  time  there  came  a  third  baby,  but  still  the  princess  could  not  soften 
her  heart,  and  Mother  Hildegarde  took  it  away  as  she  had  done  the  others. 
This  time  the  king  could  do  nothing  to  save  the  princess,  for  every  one 
cried  out  upon  her  that  she  was  a  wicked  witch  who  killed  her  children, 
and  that  she  should  be  burned  at  the  stake,  as  was  fitting  for  such  a  one. 
So  a  great  pile  of  fagots  was  built  out  in  the  castle  courtyard,  and  the 
princess  was  brought  out  and  tied  to  a  stake  that  stood  in  the  midst. 
Then  they  lit  the  pile  of  fagots,  and  it  began  to  crackle  and  burn  around 
her  where  she  stood. 

Then  suddenly.  Mother  Hildegarde  stood  beside  her  in  the  midst  of  the 
fire.  In  her  arms  she  held  the  princess's  youngest  baby,  and  the  others 
stood,  one  upon  one  side  and  the  other  upon  the  other,  and  held  on  to  her 
skirts. 

She  gave  the  priricess  her  speech  again,  and  then  she  said,  "  Now,  tell 
me,  did  you  go  into  the  little  room  ?" 

Even  yet  the  princess  would  have  answered  "  No ;"  but  when  she  saw 
her  children  standing  in  the  midst  of  the  fire  with  her,  her  heart  melted 
away  within  her. 

"  Yes  !"  she  cried, "  I  went  in  and  I  saw." 

"  And  how  came  your  hair  to  be  like  that  ?"  said  Mother  Hildegarde. 

"  Alas !"  said  the  princess,  "  I  gazed  upon  that  which  I  should  not  have 
gazed  upon,  and  looked  into  that  which  I  should  not  have  looked  into,  and 
one  hair  touched  the  water  and  all  was  turned  to  gold." 

Then  Mother  Hildegarde  smiled  till  her  face  shone  as  white  as  the 
moon.  "  The  truth  is  better  late  than  not  at  all,"  said  she :  "  and  if  you 
had  but  spoken  in  the  first  place,  I  would  have  freely  forgiven  you."  As 
she  spoke  a  shower  of  rain  fell  down  from  the  sky,  and  the  fire  of  the 
fagots  was  quenched. 

And  now  you  can  guess  what  joy  there  was  in  the  king's  castle  when 
every  one  knew  all  that  had  happened,  and  it  was  seen  how  the  right 
thing  had  come  about  at  last,  though  it  was  the  toss  of  a  farthing  betwixt 
this  and  that.  Even  the  king's  mother  was  glad  enough  when  she  came 
to  know  that  it  was  a  real  princess  whom  her  son  had  married  after  all. 


202  MOTHER   HILDEGARDE. 

And  now  listen  to  what  happened  in  the  end. 

They  gave  a  great  feast,  and  everybody  was  asked  to  come  from  far  and 
near.  Then  who  should  come  travelling  along  with  the  others,  as  grand  as 
you  please,  but  the  wicked  step-mother  and  step-sister  of  the  princess. 

Dear,  dear,  how  they  stared  and  goggled  when  they  saw  who  the  young 
queen  really  was,  and  that  the  poor  princess  had  married  the  richest  and 
greatest  king  in  all  of  the  land ! 

Their  hearts  were  so  filled  with  envy  that  they  swelled  and  swelled  until 
they  burst  within  them,  and  they  fell  down  dead,  and  there  was  an  end  of 
them. 

Thus  it  is  that  everything  turns  out  right  in  the  long  run — that  is  in 
fairy  tales. 

But,  after  all,  if  the  princess  had  only  told  the  truth  in  the  first  place, 
she  would  never  have  gotten  in  all  this  peck  of  trouble. 

And  then  who  knows  what  Mother  Hildegarde  would  have  done  for 
her,  for  she  is  a  strange  woman,  is  Mother  Hildegarde. 


©K.P.U 

Warm 
and 
Dusty . 


Four  O'clock  • 


|are- necked  Gretchen  combs  her  hair 

A  t  the  Loeking-Glass . 
This  is  Grease,  arid  these  are  Beads 

She  takes  to  early  Mass. 

Her  Water-Pitcher,  blue  and  white, 

Has  got  a  broken  Nose , 
And  both  the  Stockings  that  she  wears 

Are  ravelled  at  the  Toes . 


Which 


XVI. 


HERE  was  a  rich  man  who  lived  on  a  hill,  and  a  poor 
man  who  lived  down  in  the  valley,  and  they  were 
brothers,  the  one  was  older  and  the  other  younger. 
The  one  lived  in  a  grand  house  and  the  other  in  a 
little,  rickety,  tumbledown  hut,  and  the  one  was 
covetous  and  greedy  and  the  other  was  kind  and 
merciful.  All  the  same,  it  was  a  merry  life  that  the 
poor  brother  led  of  it,  for  each  morning  when  he  took 

a  drink  he  said,  "  Thank  Heaven  for  clear  water ;"  and  when  the  day  was 
bright  he  said,  "  Thank  Heaven  for  the  warm  sun  that  shines  on  us  all ;" 
and  when  it  was  wet  it  was,  "  Thank  Heaven  for  the  gentle  rain  that  makes 
the  green  grass  grow." 

One  day  the  poor  brother  was  riding  in  the  forest,  and  there  he  met  the 
rich  brother,  and  they  jogged  along  the  way  together.  The  one  rode  upon 
a  poor,  old,  spavined,  white  horse,  and  the  other  rode  upon  a  fine,  prancing 
steed. 

By  and  by  they  met  an  old  woman,  and  it  was  all  that  she  could  do  to 
hobble  along  the  way  she  was  going. 

"  Dear,  good,  kind  gentlemen,"  said  she, "  do  help  a  poor  old  body  with 
a  penny  or  two,  for  it  is  nothing  I  have  in  the  world,  and  life  sits  heavy  on 
old  shoulders." 

The  rich  brother  was  for  passing  along  as  though  he  heard  never  a  word 


206  WHICH   IS   BEST? 

of  what  she  said,  but  the  poor  brother  had  a  soft  heart,  and  reined  in  his 
horse. 

"  It  is  only  three  farthings  that  I  have  in  the  world,"  said  he  ;  "  but 
such  as  they  are  you  are  welcome  to  them,"  and  he  emptied  his  purse 
into  her  hand. 

"You  shall  not  have  the  worst  of  the  bargain,"  said  the  old  woman-, 
"  here  is  something  that  is  worth  the  having,"  and  she  gave  him  a  little 
black  stone  about  as  big  as  a  bean.  Then  off  she  went  with  what  he  had 
given  her. 

"  See,  now,"  said  the  rich  brother,  "  that  is  why  you  are  so  poor  as 
hardly  to  be  able  to  make  both  ends  meet  in  the  world." 

"  That  may  be  so,  or  may  not  be  so,"  said  the  poor  brother ;  "  all  the 
same,  mercy  is  better  than  greed." 

How  the  elder  did  laugh  at  this,  to  be  sure  !  "  Why,  look,"  says  he, 
"  here  I  am  riding  upon  a  grand  horse  with  my  pockets  full  of  gold  and 
silver  money,  and  there  you  are  astride  of  a  beast  that  can  hardly  hobble 
along  the  road,  and  with  never  a  copper  bit  in  your  pocket  to  jingle  against 
another." 

Yes  ;  that  was  all  true  enough ;  nevertheless,  the  younger  brother  stuck 
to  it  that  mercy  was  better  than  greed,  until,  at  last,  the  other  flew  into  a 
mighty  huff. 

"  Very  well,"  says  he, "  I  will  wager  my  horse  against  yours  that  I  am 
right,  and  we  will  leave  it  to  the  first  body  we  meet  to  settle  the  point." 

Well,  that  suited  the  poor  brother,  and  he  was  agreed  to  do  as  the 
other  said. 

So  by  and  by  they  met  a  grand  lord  riding  along  the  road  with  six 
servants  behind  him ;  and  would  he  tell  whether  mercy  or  greed  were  the 
best  for  a  body  in  this  world  ? 

The  rich  lord  laughed  and  laughed.  "  Why,"  said  he,  "  greed  is  the 
best,  for  if  it  were  otherwise,  and  I  had  only  what  belonged  to  me,  I  should 
never  be  jogging  along  through  the  world  with  six  servants  behind  me." 

So  off  he  rode,  and  the  poor  brother  had  to  give  up  his  horse  to  the 
other,  who  had  no  more  use  for  it  than  I  have  for  five  more  fingers.  "  All 
the  same,"  says  the  poor  brother, "  mercy  is  better  than  greed."  Goodness ! 
what  a  rage  the  rich  brother  fell  into,  to  be  sure !  "  There  is  no  teaching  a 
simpleton,"  said  he ;  "  nevertheless,  I  will  wager  all  the  money  in  my  purse 
against  your  left  eye  that  greed  is  better  than  mercy,  and  we  will  leave  it 
to  the  next  body  we  meet,  since  you  are  not  content  with  the  other." 


airing  been  thrice  abjubgeb 

in  tlje  torong,  tije  pooj  manfc  left  bp 
%ritfj  man  blinb  u 


r 


208  WHICH   IS   BEST? 

That  suited  the  younger  brother  well  enough,  and  on  they  jogged  until 
they  met  a  rich  merchant  driving  a  donkey  loaded  with  things  to  sell. 
And  would  he  judge  between  them  whether  mercy  "or  greed  were  the  best 
for  a  body? 

"  Poof !"  says  the  merchant,  "  what  a  question  to  ask !  All  the  world 
knows  that  greed  is  the  best.  If  it  were  not  for  taking  the  cool  end  of 
the  bargain,  myself,  and  leaving  the  hot  end  for  my  neighbor  to  hold,  it  is 
little  or  nothing  that  I  should  have  in  the  world  to  call  my  own."  And 
off  he  went  whither  he  was  going. 

"  There,"  says  the  rich  brother,  "  now  perhaps  you  will  be  satisfied ;" 
and  he  put  out  the  poor  man's  left  eye. 

But  no,  the  other  still  held  that  mercy  was  better  than  greed ;  and  so 
they  made  another  wager  of  all  the  rich  man  had  in  the  world  against  the 
poor  man's  right  eye. 

This  time  it  was  a  poor  ploughman  whom  they  met,  and  would  he  tell 
whether  mercy  or  greed  were  the  best  ? 

"  Prut !"  said  he,  "  any  simpleton  can  tell  -that  greed  is  the  best,  for  all 
the  world  rides  on  the  poor  man's  shoulders,  and  he  is  able  to  bear  the 
burden  the  least  of  all." 

Then  the  rich  man  put  out  the  poor  man's  right  eye ;  "  for,"  says  he, "  a 
body  deserves  to  be  blind  who  cannot  see  the  truth  when  it  is  as  plain  as 
a  pikestaff." 

But  still  the  poor  man  stuck  to  it  that  mercy  was  the  best.  So  the 
rich  man  rode  away  and  left  him  in  his  blindness. 

As  all  was  darkness  to  his  eyes,  he  sat  down  beside  the  road  at  the 
first  place  he  could  find,  and  that  was  underneath  the  gallows  where  three 
wicked  robbers  had  been  hung.  While  he  sat  there  two  ravens  came  flying, 
and  lit  on  the  gallows  above  him.  They  began  talking  to  one  another,  and 
the  younger  brother  heard  what  they  said,  for  he  could  understand  the 
speech  of  the  birds  of  the  air  and  of  the  beasts  of  the  field,  just  as  little 
children  can,  because  he  was  innocent. 

And  the  first  raven  said  to  the  second  raven,  "  Yonder,  below,  sits  a 
fellow  in  blindness,  because  he  held  that  mercy  was  better  than  greed." 

And  the  second  raven  said  to  the  first,  "  Yes,  that  is  so,  but  he  might 
have  his  sight  again  if  he  only  knew  enough  to  spread  his  handkerchief 
upon  the  grass,  and  bathe  his  eyes  in  the  dew  which  falls  upon  it  from  the 
gallows  above." 

And  the  first  raven  said  to  the  second,  "  That  is  as  true  as  that  one  and 


one  make  two ;  but  there  is  more  to  tell  yet,  for  in  his  pocket  he  carries 
a  little  black  stone  with  which  he  may  open  every  door  that  he  touches. 
Back  of  the  oak-tree  yonder  is  a  little  door ;  if  he  would  but  enter  thereat 
he  would  find  something  below  well  worth  the  having." 

That  was  what  the  two  ravens  said,  and  then  they  flapped  their  wings 
and  flew  away. 

As  for  the  younger  brother,  you  can  guess  how  his  heart  danced  at 
what  he  heard.  He  spread  his  handkerchief  on  the  grass,  and  by  and  by, 
14 


210  WHICH   IS  BEST? 

when  night  came,  the  dew  fell  upon  it  until  it  was  as  wet  as  clothes  on 
the  line.  He  wiped  his  eyes  with  it,  and  when  the  dew  touched  the  lids 
they  were  cured,  and  he  could  see  as  well  and  better  than  ever. 

By  and  by  the  day  broke,  and  he  lost  no  time  in  finding  the  door  back 
of  the  oak-tree.  He  touched  the  lock  with  the  little  black  stone,  and  the 
door  opened  as  smoothly  as  though  the  hinges  were  greased.  There  he 
found  a  flight  of  steps  that  led  down  into  a  pit  as  dark  as  a  beer  vault. 
Down  the  steps  he  went,  and  on  and  on  until,  at  last,  he  came  to  a  great 
room,  the  like  of  which  his  eyes  had  never  seen  before.  In  the  centre  of 
the  room  was  a  statue  as  black  as  ink ;  in  one  hand  it  held  a  crystal  globe 
which  shone  with  a  clear  white  light,  so  that  it  dazzled  one's  eyes  to  look 
upon  it ;  in  the  other  hand  it  held  a  great  diamond  as  big  as  a  hen's  egg. 
Upon  the  breast  of  the  statue  were  written  these  words  in  letters  of  gold : 

"WHAT  THOU  DESERVEST 
THAT  THOU  SHALT  HAVE." 

On  three  sides  of  the  room  sat  three  statues,  and  at  the  feet  of  each 
statue  stood  a  heavy  chest : 

The  first  statue  was  of  gold,  and  over  its  head  were  written  these 
words : 

"WHO  CHOOSES  HERE  TAKES  THE  BEST  THAT  THE  EARTH   HAS  TO  GIVE." 

The  second  statue  was  of  silver,  and  over  its  head  was  written  these 
words : 

"WHO  CHOOSES  HERE  TAKES  WHAT  THE  RICH  MAN  LOVES." 

The  third  statue  was  of  dull  lead,  and  over  its  head  was  written : 

"WHO  CHOOSES  HERE  TAKES  WHAT  HE  SHOULD  HAVE." 

The  man  touched  the  chest  at  the  feet  of  the  golden  statue  with  the 
little  black  stone.  And — click !  clack ! — up  flew  the  lid,  and  the  chest 
was  full  of  all  kinds  of  precious  stones. 

"  Pugh !"  says  the  younger  brother ;  "  and  if  this  is  the  best  that  the 
world  has  to  give,  it  is  poor  enough."  And  he  shut  down  the  lid  again. 

He  touched  the  chest  at  the  feet  of  the  silver  statue  with  his  little  black 
stone,  and  it  was  full  of  gold  and  silver  money. 

"  Pish  !"  says  he ;  "  and  if  this  is  what  the  rich  man  loves,  why,  so  do  not 
I."  And  he  shut  down  the  lid  again. 

Last  of  all  he  touched  the  chest  at  the  feet  of  the  leaden  statue. 


fyepooj  tnanfinbjs  d)attx>lp'cb 

IT 


212  WHICH   IS   BEST? 

In  it  was  a  book,  and  the  letters  on  it  said  that  whoever  read  within 
would  know  all  that  was  worth  the  knowing.  Beside  the  book  was  a  pair 
of  spectacles,  and  whoever  set  them  astride  of  his  nose  might  see  the  truth 
without  having  to  rub  the  glasses  with  his  pocket-handkerchief.  But  the 
best  of  all  in  the  chest  was  an  apple,  and  whoever  ate  of  it  would  be  cured 
of  sorrow  and  sickness. 

"  Hi  !"•  said  the  younger  brother,  "  but  these  are  worth  the  having,  for 
sure  and  certain."  And  he  put  the  spectacles  upon  his  nose  and  the 
apple  and  the  book  in  his  pocket.  Then  off  he  went,  and  the  spectacles 
showed  him  the  way,  although  it  was  as  crooked  as  sin  and  as  black  as 
night. 

So  by  and  by  he  came  out  into  the  blessed  sunlight  again,  and  at  the 
same  place  where  he  had  gone  in. 

Off  he  went  to  his  own  home  as  fast  as  his  legs  could  carry  him,  and  you 
can  guess  how  the  rich  brother  stared  when  he  saw  the  poor  brother  back  in 
that  town  again,  with  his  eyesight  as  good  as  ever. 

As  for  the  poor  brother,  he  just  turned  his  hand  to  being  a  doctor ;  and 
there  has  never  been  one  like  him  since  that  day,  for  not  only  could  he  cure 
all  sickness  with  his  apple,  but  he  could  cure  all  sorrow  as  well.  Money 
and  fame  poured  in  on  him  ;  and  whenever  trouble  lit  on  his  shoulders  he 
just  put  on  his  spectacles  and  looked  into  the  business,  and  then  opened 
the  book  of  wisdom  and  found  how  to  cure  it.  So  his  life  was  as  happy  as 
the  day  was  long ;  and  a  body  can  ask  for  no  more  than  that  in  this  world 
here  below. 

One  day  the  rich  brother  came  and  knocked  at  the  other's  door.  "  Well, 
brother,"  says  he,  "  I  am  glad  to  see  you  getting  along  so  well  in  the  world. 
Let  us  let  bygones  be  bygones  and  live  together  as  we  should,  for  I  am 
sorry  for  what  I  did  to  you." 

Well,  that  suited  the  younger  brother  well  enough ;  he  bore  no  malice 
against  the  other,  for  all  that  had  been  done  had  turned  out  for  the  best. 
All  the  same,  he  was  more  sure  than  ever  now  that  mercy  was  better  than 
greed. 

The  elder  brother  twisted  up  his  face  at  this,  as  though  the  words  were 
sour ;  all  the  same,  he  did  not  argue  the  question,  for  what  he  had  come  for 
was  to  find  why  the  world  had  grown  so  easy  with  the  other  all  of  a  sudden. 
So  in  he  came,  and  they  lit  their  pipes  and  sat  down  by  the  stove  together. 

He  was  a  keen  blade,  was  the  elder  brother,  and  it  was  not  long  before 
he  had  screwed  the  whole  story  out  of  the  other. 


214 


WHICH   IS   BEST? 


"  Dear,  dear,  dear !"  said  he,  "  I  only  wish  I  could  find  a  black  pebble  like 
that  one  of  yours." 

"  It  would  do  you  no  good  if  you  had  it,"  said  the  younger  brother,  "  for 
I  have  brought  away  all  that  is  worth  the  having.  All  the  same,  if  you  want 
my  black  pebble  now  you  are  welcome  to  it." 

Did  the  elder  brother  want  it !  Why,  of  course  he  wanted  it,  and  he 
could  not  find  words  enough  to  thank  the  younger. 

Off  he  went,  hot-foot,  to  find  the  door  back  of  the  oak-tree ;  "  For,"  said 
he  to  himself,  "  I  will  bring  something  back  better  worth  the  having  than 
a  musty  book,  an  old  pair  of  spectacles,  and  a  red  apple." 

He  touched  the  door  with  the  black  stone,  and  it  opened  for  him  just 
as  it  had  for  the  younger  brother. 

Down  the  steps  he  went,  and  on  and  on  and  on,  until  by  and  by  he  came 
to  the  room  where  the  statues  were.  There  was  the  black  statue  holding 
out  the  crystal  ball  and  the  diamond  as  big  as  a  hen's  egg,  and  there  sat  the 
golden  statue  and  the  silver  statue  and  the  leaden  statue,  just  as  they  had 
sat  when  the  younger  brother  had  been  there,  only  there  was  nothing  in  the 
chest  at  the  feet  of  the  leaden  statue. 

The  rich  brother  touched  the  lock  of  the  chest  in  front  of  the 
silver  statue.  Up  flew  the  lid,  and  there  lay  all  the  gold  and  silver 
money. 

"  Yes,"  says  he,  "  that  is  what  the  rich  man  loves,  sure  enough.  Never- 
theless, there  may  be  something  else  that  is  better  worth  the  having."  So 
he  let  the  money  lay  where  it  was. 

He  touched  the  chest  in  front  of  the  golden  statue.  Up  flew  the  lid, 
and  he  had  to  blink  and  wink  his  eyes  because  the  precious  stones  dazzled 
them  so. 

"  Yes,"  says  he,  "  this  is  the  best  the  world  has  to  give,  and  there  is 
no  gainsaying  that ;  all  the  same,  there  may  be  something  better  worth 
the  having  than  these." 

So  he  looked  all  about  the  room,  until  he  saw  the  golden  letters  on 
the  breast  of  the  black  statue  that  stood  in  the  middle.  First  he  read 
the  words : 

"WHAT   THOU   DESERVEST 
THAT   THOU   SHALT   HAVE." 

And  then  he  saw  the  great  diamond  that  the  statue  held  in  its  left 
hand. 

"  Why,"  said  he, "  it  is  as  plain  as  daylight  that  I  deserve  this  precious 


WHICH   IS  BEST?  215 

stone,  for  not  being  so  simple  as  my  brother,  and  taking  what  I  could  find 
without  looking  for  anything  better." 

So  up  he  stepped  and  took  the  diamond  out  of  the  statue's  hand. 

Crash  ! — and  all  was  darkness,  darker  than  the  darkest  midnight ;  for,  as 
quick  as  a  wink,  the  black  statue  let  the  crystal  globe  of  light  fall  from  its 
right  hand  upon  the  stone  floor,  where  it  broke  into  ten  thousand  pieces. 

And  now  the  rich  brother  might  wander  up  and  wander  down,  but 
wander  as  he  chose  he  could  never  find  his  way  out  of  that  place  again, 
for  the  darkness  shut  him  in  like  a  blanket. 

So,  after  all,  mercy  and  temperance  were  better  in  the  long  run  than 
greed  and  covetousness,  in  spite  of  what  the  great  lord  and  the  rich 
merchant  and  the  poor  ploughman  had  said. 

Maybe  I  have  got  this  story  twisted  awry  in  the  telling ;  all  the  same, 
Tommy  Pfouce  says  that  it  is  a  true -enough  story,  if  you  put  on  your 
spectacles  and  look  at  it  from  the  right  side. 


Five  O'clock  • 


ssy  -Cat,  Pussy  -Cat  what  do  you  dream, 
Sleeping  out  there  in  the  jjun  ? 
and  White  Cow  are  out 


0 


!  I  guess  that  the  Milking  is  done.  K.P. 


Pussy  -Cat,  Pussy  -Cat  open  your  Eyes, 

And  see  what  your  Kitten  s  about  ; 
She's  found  a  great  Rat-Hole  that  s  close 

to  the  Stet>  , 
And  is  watching  for  him  to  come  out. 


TheSimpleton 

andbis 

Little  BlackHen 


XVII. 


HERE  were  three  brothers  left  behind  when  the  father 
died.  The  two  elder,  whose  names  were  John  and 
James,  were  as  clever  lads  as  ever  ate  pease  with  a 
fork. 

As  for  the  youngest,  his  name  was  Caspar,  he 
had  no  more  than  enough  sense  to  blow  his  potatoes 
when  they  were  hot.  Well,  when  they  came  to 
divide  things  up  between  themselves,  John  and 
James  contrived  to  share  all  of  the  good  things  between  them.  As  for 
Caspar,  "  why,  the  little  black  hen  is  enough  for  him,"  says  John  and 
James,  and  that  was  all  the  butter  he  got  from  that  churn. 

"  I'll  take  the  little  black  hen  to  the  fair,"  says  Caspar,  "  and  there 
I'll  sell  her  and  buy  me  some  eggs.  I'll  set  the  eggs  under  the  minister's 
speckled  hen,  and  then  I'll  have  more  chicks.  Then  I'll  buy  me  more 
eggs  and  have  more  chicks,  and  then  I'll  buy  me  more  eggs  and  have  more 
chicks,  and  after  that  I'll  be  richer  than  Uncle  Henry,  who  has  two  cows 
and  a  horse,  and  will  marry  my  sweetheart  into  the  bargain."  So  off  he 
went  to  the  fair  with  the  black  hen  under  his  arm,  as  he  had  promised 
himself  to  do. 

"  There  goes  a  goose  to  the  plucking,"  says  John  and  James,  and  then 
they  turned  no  hairs  grey  by  thinking  any  more  about  the  case. 

As  for  him,  why,  he  went  on  and  on  until  he  came  to  the  inn  over  the 
hill  not  far  from  the  town,  the  host  of  which  was  no  better  than  he  should 
be,  and  that  was  the  long  and  the  short  of  it. 


220  THE   SIMPLETON  AND   HIS  LITTLE   BLACK   HEN. 

"Where  do  you  go  with  the  little  black  hen,  Caspar?"  says  he. 

"  Oh,"  says  Caspar,  "  I  take  it  to  the  fair  to  sell  it  and  buy  me  some 
eggs.  I'll  set  the  eggs  under  the  minister's  speckled  hen,  and  then  I'll 
have  more  chicks.  Then  I'll  buy  me  more  eggs  and  have  more  chicks,  and 
then  I'll  buy  me  more  eggs  and  have  more  chicks,  and  after  that  I'll  be 
richer  than  Uncle  Henry,  who  has  two  cows  and  a  horse,  and  will  marry 
my  sweetheart  into  the  bargain." 

Prut !  And  why  should  Caspar  take  his  hen  to  the  fair  ?  That  was 
what  the  landlord  said.  It  was  a  silly  thing  to  tramp  to  the  river  for 
water  before  the  well  was  dry  at  home.  Why,  the  landlord  had  a  friend 
over  yonder  who  would  give  ten  pennies  to  one  that  he  could  get  at  the 
fair  for  his  black  hen.  Now,  had  Caspar  ever  heard  tell  of  the  little  old 
gentleman  who  lived  in  the  old  willow-tree  over  yonder? 

No,  Caspar  had  never  heard  tell  of  him  in  all  of  his  life.  And  there 
was  no  wonder  in  that,  for  no  more  had  anybody  else,  and  the  landlord 
was  only  up  to  a  bit  of  a  trick  to  get  the  little  black  hen  for  himself. 

But  the  landlord  sucked  in  his  lips — "  tsch  " — so  !  Well,  that  was  a  pity, 
for  the  little  old  gentleman  had  said,  time  and  time  again,  that  he  would 
give  a  whole  bagful  of  gold  and  silver  money  for  just  such  a  little  black 
hen  as  the  one  that  Caspar  carried  under  his  arm. 

Dear,  dear!  How  Caspar's  eyes  did  open  at  this,  to  be  sure.  Off  he 
started  for  the  willow-tree.  "  Here's  the  little  black  hen,"  said  he,  "  and 
I'll  sell  her  for  a  bagful  of  gold  and  silver  money."  But  nobody  answered 
him ;  and  you  may  be  sure  of  that,  for  there  was  nobody  there. 

"  Well,"  says  Caspar,  "  I'll  just  tie  the  hen  to  the  tree  here,  and  you 
may  pay  me  to-morrow."  So  he  did  as  he  had  said,  and  off  he  marched. 
Then  came  the  landlord  and  took  the  hen  off  home  and  had  it  for  his 
supper ;  and  there  was  an  end  of  that  business. 

An  end  of  that  business?  No,  no ;  stop  a  bit,  for  we  will  not  drive  too 
fast  down  the  hill.  Listen :  there  was  a  wicked  robber  who  had  hidden  a 
bag  of  gold  and  silver  money  in  that  very  tree ;  but  of  that  neither  Caspar 
nor  the  landlord  knew  any  more  than  the  chick  in  the  shell. 

"  Hi !"  says  Caspar,  "  it  is  the  wise  man  who  gets  along  in  the  world." 
But  there  he  was  wrong  for  once  in  his  life,  Tommy  Pfouce  tells  me. 

"And  did  you  sell  your  hen?"  says  John  and  James. 

"  Oh,  yes ;  Caspar  had  done  that. 

And  what  had  he  got  for  it? 

Oh,  just  a  bag  of  gold  and  silver  money,  that  was  all.     He  would  show 


\)t  cunning 

C  ajapar  to^crc  f  o  taktl)\&  Ijtn  f  o  sell  if 
fojagoo&pjice. 


222  THE  SIMPLETON  AND   HIS  LITTLE   BLACK   HEN. 

it  to  them  to-morrow,  for  he  was  to  go  and  get  it  then  from  the  old 
gentleman  who  lived  in  the  willow-tree  over  yonder  by  the  inn  over  the 
hill. 

When  John  and  James  heard  that  they  saw  as  plain  as  the  nose  on 
your  face  that  Caspar  had  been  bitten  by  the  fool  dog. 

But  Caspar  never  bothered  his  head  about  that ;  off  he  went  the  next 
day  as  grand  as  you  please.  Up  he  marched  to  the  willow-tree,  but  never 
a  soul  did  he  find  there ;  for  why,  there  was  nobody. 

Rap !  tap !  tap !  He  knocked  upon  the  tree  as  civil  as  a  beggar  at  the 
kitchen  door,  but  nobody  said,  "  Come  in !" 

"  Look,"  says  he,  "  we  will  have  no  dilly-dallying ;  I  want  my  money 
and  I  will  have  it,"  and  he  fetched  a  kick  at  the  tree  that  made  the  bark 
fly.  But  he  might  as  well  have  kicked  my  grandfather's  bedpost  for  all 
the  good  he  had  of  it.  "  Oh,  very  well !"  says  he,  and  off  he  marched  and 
brought  the  axe  that  stood  back  of  the  stable  door. 

Hui !  how  the  chips  flew !  for  Caspar  was  bound  to  get  to  the  bottom 
of  the  business.  So  by  and  by  the  tree  lay  on  the  ground,  and  there  was 
the  bag  of  gold  and  silver  money  that  the  wicked  robber  had  hidden. 
"  So !"  says  Caspar,  "  better  late  than  never !"  and  off  he  marched 
with  it. 

By  and  by  whom  should  he  meet  but  John  and  James.  Bless  me,  how 
they  stared!  And  did  Caspar  get  all  of  that  money  for  one  little  black 
hen? 

Oh,  yes ;  that  he  had. 

And  where  did  he  get  it? 

Oh!  the  little  old  man  in  the  willow-tree  had  paid  it  to  him. 

So,  good !  that  was  a  fine  thing,  and  it  should  be  share  and  share  alike 
among  brothers;  that  was  what  John  and  James  said,  and  Caspar  did 
not  say  "  No ;"  so  down  they  all  sat  on  the  grass  and  began  counting  it 
out. 

"  This  is  mine,"  said  John. 

"  And  this  is  mine,"  said  James. 

"  And  this  is  mine,"  said  John. 

"  And  this  is  mine,"  said  James. 

"  And  where  is  mine  ?"  says  Caspar.  But  neither  of  the  others  thought 
of  him  because  he  was  so  simple. 

Just  then  who  should  come  along  but  the  rogue  of  a  landlord.  "  Hi ! 
and  where  did  you  get  all  that?"  says  he. 


"  Oh,"  says  Caspar,  "  the  little  old  man  in  the  willow-tree  paid  it  to 
me  for  my  little  black  hen." 

Yes,  yes,  the  landlord  knew  how  much  of  that  cake  to  eat.  He  was 
not  to  have  the  wool  pulled  over  his  eyes  so  easily.  See,  now,  he  knew 
very  well  that  thieving  had  been  done,  and  he  would  have  them  all  up 
before  the  master  mayor  for  it.  So  the  upshot  of  the  matter  was  that 
they  had  to  take  him  in  to  share  with  them. 

"  This  is  mine,"  says  the  landlord. 

"  And  this  is  mine,"  says  John. 

"  And  this  is  mine,"  says  James. 

"  And  where  do  I  come  in  ?"  says  poor  Caspar.  But  nobody  thought 
of  him  because  he  was  so  simple. 


224  THE  SIMPLETON  AND   HIS  LITTLE   BLACK   HEN. 

Just  then  came  along  a  company  of  soldiers — tramp !  tramp  !  tramp  ! — 
and  there  they  found  them  all  sharing  the  money  between  them,  except 
Caspar. 

"  Hi !"  says  the  captain,  "  here  are  a  lot  of  thieves,  and  no  mistake !" 
and  off  he  marched  them  to  the  king's  house,  which  was  finer  than  any  in 
our  town,  and  as  big  as  a  church  into  the  bargain. 

And  how  had  they  come  by  all  that  money?  that  was  what  the  king 
would  like  to  know. 

As  for  the  three  rogues,  they  sang  a  different  tune  now  than  they  had 
whistled  before. 

"  It's  none  of  mine,  it's  his,"  said  the  landlord,  and  he  pointed  to  John. 

"  It's  none  of  mine,  it's  his,"  said  John,  and  he  pointed  to  James. 

"  It's  none  of  mine,  it's  his,"  said  James,  and  he  pointed  to  Caspar. 

"  And  how  did  you  get  it?"  says  the  king. 

"  Oh !"  says  Caspar,  "  the  little  old  man  in  the  willow-tree  gave  it  to 
me  for  my  little  black  hen ;"  and  then  he  told  the  whole  story  without 
missing  a  single  grain. 

Beside  the  king  sat  the  princess,  who  was  so  serious  and  solemn  that 
she  had  never  laughed  once  in  all  her  life.  So  the  king  had  said,  time 
and  time  again,  that  whoever  should  make  her  laugh  should  have  her  for 
his  wife.  Now,  when  she  heard  Caspar's  story,  and  how  he  came  in 
behind  all  the  rest,  so  that  he  always  had  the  pinching,  like  the  tail  of  our. 
cat  in  the  crack  of  the  door,  she  laughed  like  everything,  for  she  could 
not  help  it.  So  there  was  the  fat  in  the  fire,  for  Caspar  was  not  much  to 
look  at,  and  that  was  the  truth.  Dear,  dear,  what  a  stew  the  king  was  in, 
for  he  had  no  notion  for  Caspar  as  a  son-in-law.  So  he  began  to  think 
about  striking  a  bargain.  "  Come,"  says  he  to  Caspar,  "  how  much  will 
you  take  to  give  up  the  princess  instead  of  marrying  her  ?" 

Well,  Caspar  did  not  know  how  much  a  princess  was  worth.  So  he 
scratched  his  head  and  scratched  his  head,  and  by  and  by  he  said  that 
he  would  be  willing  to  take  ten  dollars  and  let  the  princess  go. 

At  this  the  king  boiled  over  into  a  mighty  fume,  like  water  into  the 
fire.  What !  did  Caspar  think  that  ten  dollars  was  a  fit  price  for  a 
princess ! 

Oh,  Caspar  had  never  done  any  business  of  this  kind  before.  He  had 
a  sweetheart  of  his  own  at  home,  and  if  ten  dollars  was  too  much  for  the 
princess  he  would  be  willing  to  take  five. 

Sakes  alive  !  what  a  rage  the  king  was  in !     Why,  I  would  not  have 


tljreepfyarc  t\)t  money  amongst  f  fytm 


stood  in  Caspar's  shoes  just  then — no,  not  for  a  hundred  dollars.  The 
king  would  have  had  him  whipped  right  away,  only  just  then  he  had  some 
other  business  on  hand.  So  he  paid  Caspar  his  five  dollars,  and  told  him 
that  if  he  would  come  back  the  next  day  he  should  have  all  that  his  back 
could  carry — meaning  a  whipping. 

As  for  Caspar  and  his  brothers  and  the  rogue  of  a  landlord,  they 
thought  that  the  king  was  talking  about  dollars.  So  when  they  had 
left  the  king's  house  and  had  come  out  into  the  road  again,  the  three 
rogues  began  to  talk  as  smooth  and  as  soft  as  though  their  words  were 
buttered. 

See,  now,  what  did  Caspar  want  with  all  that  the  king  had  promised 
him ;  that  was  what  they  said.  If  he  would  let  them  have  it,  they  would 
give  him  all  of  their  share  of  the  money  he  had  found  in  the  willow-tree. 

"Ah,  yes,"  says  Caspar,  "I  am  willing  to  do  that.  For,"  says  he  to 
15 


226  THE  SIMPLETON  AND  HIS  LITTLE   BLACK   HEN. 

himself,  "  an  apple  in  the  pocket  is  worth  three  on  the  tree."  And  there 
he  was  right  for  once  in  his  life. 

Well,  the  next  day  back  they  all  tramped  to  the  king's  house  again  to 
get  what  had  been  promised  to  Caspar. 

So  !  Caspar  had  come  back  for  the  rest,  had  he  ? 

Oh,  yes,  he  had  come  back  again ;  but  the  lord  king  must  know  that 
he  had  sold  all  that  had  been  promised  to  him  to  these  three  lads  for 
their  share  of  the  money  he  had  found  in  the  willow-tree  over  yonder. 

"Yes,"  says  the  landlord,  "one  part  of  what  has  been  promised  is  mine." 

"  And  one  part  of  it  is  mine,"  says  John. 

"  Stop  a  bit,  brother,"  says  James ;  "  remember,  one  part  of  it  is  mine 
too." 

At  this  the  king  could  not  help  laughing,  and  that  broke  the  back  of 
his  anger. 

First  of  all  he  sent  the  landlord  for  his  share,  and  if  his  back  did  not 
smart  after  he  had  it,  why,  it  was  not  the  fault  of  those  who  gave  it  to 
him.  By  and  by  he  came  back  again,  but  he  said  nothing  to  the  others 
of  what  had  been  given  to  him ;  but  all  the  same  he  grinned  as  though 
he  had  been  eating  sour  gooseberries.  Then  John  went,  and  last  of  all 
James,  and  what  they  got  satisfied  them,  I  can  tell  you. 

After  that  the  king  told  Caspar  that  he  might  go  into  the  other  room 
and  fill  his  pockets  with  money  for  what  he  had  given  up  to  the  others ;  so 
he  had  the  cool  end  of  that  bargain,  and  did  not  burn  his  fingers  after  all. 

But  the  three  rogues  were  not  satisfied  with  this.  No,  indeed !  Caspar 
should  have  his  share  of  the  smarting,  see  if  he  shouldn't !  So  back  they 
went  to  the  king's  house  one  fine  day,  and  said  that  Caspar  had  been  talking 
about  the  lord  king,  and  had  said  that  he  was  no  better  than  an  old  hunks. 
At  this  the  king  was  awfully  angry.  And  so  off  he  sent  the  others  to  fetch 
Caspar  along  so  that  he  might  settle  the  score  with  him. 

When  the  three  came  home,  there  was  Caspar  lying  on  a  bench  in  the 
sun,  for  he  could  take  the  world  easy  now,  because  he  was  so  rich. 

"  Come  along,  Caspar,"  said  they,  "  the  king  wants  to  see  you  over  at 
his  house  yonder." 

Yes,  yes,  but  there  was  too  much  hurrying  in  this  business,  for  it  was 
over -quick  cooking  that  burned  the  broth.  If  Caspar  was  to  go  to  the 
king's  house  he  would  go  in  fitting  style,  so  they  would  just  have  to  wait 
till  he  found  a  horse,  for  he  was  not  going  to  jog  it  afoot ;  that  was  what 
Caspar  said. 


tye  tfym  rogues  lenb  Caspar 


228  THE  SIMPLETON   AND   HIS   LITTLE   BLACK   HEN. 

"  Yes,"  says  the  landlord, "  but  sooner  than  you  should  lose  time  in  the 
waiting,  I  will  lend  you  my  fine  dapple-grey." 

But  where  was  the  bridle  to  come  from  ?  Caspar  would  have  them  know 
that  he  was  not  going  to  ride  a  horse  to  the  king's  house  without  a  good 
bridle  over  the  nag's  ears. 

Oh,  John  would  lend  him  the  new  bridle  that  he  bought  in  the  town 
last  week ;  so  that  was  soon  settled. 

But  how  about  the  saddle  ? — that  was  what  Caspar  wanted  to  know- 
yes,  how  about  the  saddle?  Did  they  think  that  he  was  going  to  ride  up  to 
the  king's  house  with  his  heels  thumping  against  the  horse's  ribs  as  though 
he  were  no  better  than  a  ploughman  ? 

Oh,  James  would  lend  him  a  saddle  if  that  was  all  he  wanted. 

So  off  they  went,  all  four  of  them,  to  the  king's  house. 

There  was  the  king,  walking  up  and  down,  and  fussing  and  fuming  with 
anger  till  he  was  all  of  a  heat. 

"  See,  now,"  says  he,  as  soon  as  he  saw  Caspar,  "  what  did  you  call  me 
an  old  hunks  for  ?" 

"  I  didn't  call  you  an  old  hunks,"  said  Caspar. 

"  Yes,  you  did,"  said  the  king. 

"  No,  I  didn't,"  said  Caspar. 

"  Yes,  you  did,"  said  the  king,  "  for  these  three  lads  told  me  so." 

"Prut!"  said  Caspar,  "who  would  believe  what  they  say?  Why,  they 
would  just  as  lief  tell  you  that  this  horse  and  saddle  and  bridle  belong  to 
them." 

"  And  so  they  do !"  bawled  the  three  rogues. 

"  See  there,  now,"  said  Caspar. 

The  king  scratched  his  head,  for  here  was  a  tangled  knot,  for  certain. 
"  Yes,  yes,"  said  he,  "  these  fellows  are  fooling  either  Caspar  or  me,  and  we 
are  both  in  the  same  tub,  for  the  matter  of  that.  Take  them  away  and 
whip  them !"  So  it  was  done  as  he  said,  and  that  was  all  that  they  got  for 
their  trouble. 

Wit  and  Luck  are  not  always  hatched  in  the  same  nest,  says  Tommy 
Pfouce,  and  maybe  he  is  right  about  it,  for  Caspar  married  his  sweetheart, 
and  if  she  did  not  keep  his  money  for  him,  and  himself  out  of  trouble,  she 
would  not  have  been  worth  speaking  of,  and  I,  for  one,  would  never  have 
told  this  story. 


Six  Ocloclt- 


little  John  and  Eliza    *•"•** 
Went  down  to  the^f/7/, 

But  now  it  has  stopped , 
And  the H ropper  is  still ; 

Cool 


for  the 
Season. 


Sojfo&n 

Come  Home  to  their  Tea , 
And  both  are  as  hungry , 

As  hungry  can  be  . 


The 

Swan  Maiden. 


XVIII. 


NCE  there  was  a  king  who  had  a  pear-tree  which  bore 
four-and-twenty  golden  pears.  Every  day  he  went 
into  the  garden  and  counted  them  to  see  that  none 
were  missing. 

But,  one  morning,  he  found  that  a  pear  had  been 
taken  during  the  night,  and  thereat  he  was  troubled 
and  vexed  to  the  heart,  for  the  pear-tree  was  as  dear 
to  him  as  the  apple  of  his  eye.     Now,  the  king  had 
three  sons,  and  so  he  called  the  eldest  prince  to  him. 

"  See,"  said  he,  "  if  you  will  watch  my  pear-tree  to-night,  and  will  find 
me  the  thief  who  stole  the  pear,  you  shall  have  half  of  my  kingdom  now, 
and  the  whole  of  it  when  I  am  gone." 

You  can  guess  how  the  prince  was  tickled  at  this:  oh,  yes,  he  would 
watch  the  tree,  and  if  the  thief  should  come  he  should  not  get  away  again 
as  easily. 

Well,  that  night  he  sat  down  beside  the  tree,  with  his  gun  across  his 
knees,  to  wait  for  the  coming  of  the  thief. 

He  waited  and  waited,  and  still  he  saw  not  so  much  as  a  thread  or  a 
hair.  But  about  the  middle  of  the  night  there  came  the  very  prettiest 
music  that  his  ears  had  ever  heard,  and  before  he  knew  what  he  was  about 
he  was  asleep  and  snoring  until  the  little  leaves  shook  upon  the  tree. 


232  THE   SWAN    MAIDEN. 

When  the  morning  came  and  he  awoke,  another  pear  was  gone,  and  he 
could  tell  no  more  about  it  than  the  man  in  the  moon. 

The  next  night  the  second  son  set  out  to  watch  the  pear-tree.  But  he 
fared  no  better  than  the  first.  About  midnight  came  the  music,  and  in  a 
little  while  he  was  snoring  till  the  stones  rattled.  When  the  morning  came 
another  pear  was  gone,  and  he  had  no  more  to  tell  about  it  than  his 
brother. 

The  third  night  it  was  the  turn  of  the  youngest  son,  and  he  was  more 
clever  than  the  others,  for,  when  the  evening  came,  he  stuffed  his  ears  full  of 
wax,  so  that  he  was  as  deaf  as  a  post.  About  midnight,  when  the  music 
came,  he  heard  nothing  of  it,  and  so  he  stayed  wide  awake.  After  the  music 
had  ended  he  took  the  wax  out  of  his  ears,  so  that  he  might  listen  for  the 
coming  of  the  thief.  Presently  there  was  a  loud  clapping  and  rattling,  and 
a  white  swan  flew  overhead  and  lit  in  the  pear-tree  above  him.  It  began 
picking  at  one  of  the  pears,  and  then  the  prince  raised  his  gun  to  shoot  at 
it.  But  when  he  looked  along  the  barrel  it  was  not  a  swan  that  he  saw  up 
in  the  pear-tree,  but  the  prettiest  girl  that  he  had  ever  looked  upon. 

"  Don't  shoot  me,  king's  son  !     Don't  shoot  me !"  cried  she. 

But  the  prince  had  no  thought  of  shooting  her,  for  he  had  never  seen 
such  a  beautiful  maiden  in  all  of  his  days.  "  Very  well,"  said  he,  "  I  will 
not  shoot,  but,  if  I  spare  your  life,  will  you  promise  to  be  my  sweetheart  and 
to  marry  me?" 

•'  That  may  be  as  may  be,"  said  the  Swan  Maiden.  "  For  listen !  I  serve 
the  witch  with  three  eyes.  She  lives  on  the  glass  hill  that  lies  beyond  the 
seven  high  mountains,  the  seven  deep  valleys,  and  the  seven  wide  rivers; 
are  you  man  enough  to  go  that  far?" 

"  Oh,  yes,"  said  the  prince,  "  I  am  man  enough  for  that  and  more  too." 

"  That  is  good,"  said  the  Swan  Maiden,  and  thereupon  she  jumped  down 
from  the  pear-tree  to  the  earth.  Then  she  became  a  swan  again,  and  bade 
the  king's  son  to  mount  upon  her  back  at  the  roots  of  her  wings.  When 
he  had  done  as  she  had  told  him,  she  sprang  into  the  air  and  flew  away, 
bearing  him  with  her. 

On  flew  the  swan,  and  on  and  on,  until,  by  and  by,  she  said,  "  What  do 
you  see,  king's  son  ?" 

"  I  see  the  grey  sky  above  me  and  the  dark  earth  below  me,  but  nothing 
else,"  said  he. 

After  that  they  flew  on  and  on  again,  until,  at  last,  the  Swan  Maiden 
said,  "  What  do  you  see  now,  king's  son  ?" 


obertbe  bills  antJ  far  afarap. 


234  THE   SWAN  MAIDEN. 

"  I  see  the  grey  sky  above  me  and  the  dark  earth  below  me,  but  nothing 
else,"  said  he. 

So  once  more  they  flew  on  until  the  Swan  Maiden  said,  for  the  third 
time,  "And  what  do  you  see  by  now,  king's  son?" 

But  this  time  the  prince  said,  "  I  see  the  grey  sky  above  me  and  the 
dark  earth  below  me,  and  over  yonder  is  a  glass  hill,  and  on  the  hill  is  a 
house  that  shines  like  fire." 

"  That  is  where  the  witch  with  three  eyes  lives,"  said  the  Swan  Maiden ; 
"  and  now  listen :  when  she  asks  you  what  it  is  that  you  came  for,  ask  her  to 
give  you  the  one  who  draws  the  water  and  builds  the  fire ;  for  that  is  myself." 

So,  when  they  had  come  to  the  top  of  the  hill  of  glass,  the  king's  son 
stepped  down  to  the  ground,  and  the  swan  flew  over  the  roof. 

Rap !  tap !  tap  i  he  knocked  at  the  door,  and  the  old  witch  herself  came 
and  opened  it. 

"  And  what  do  you  want  here  ?"  said  she. 

"  I  want  the  one  who  draws  the  water  and  builds  the  fire,"  said  the 
prince. 

At  this  the  old  witch  scowled  until  her  eyebrows  met. 

"  Very  well,"  said  she, "  you  shall  have  what  you  want  if  you  can  clean 
my  stables  to-morrow  between  the  rise  and  the  set  of  the  sun.  But  I  tell  you 
plainly,  if  you  fail  in  the  doing,  you  shall  be  torn  to  pieces  body  and  bones." 

But  the  prince  was  not  to  be  scared  away  with  empty  words.  So  the 
next  morning  the  old  witch  came  and  took  him  to  the  stables  where  he 
was  to  do  his  task.  There  stood  more  than  a  hundred  cattle,  and  the 
stable  had  not  been  cleaned  for  at  least  ten  long  years. 

"  There  is  your  work,"  said  the  old  witch,  and  then  she  left  him. 

Well,  the  king's  son  set  to  work  with  fork  and  broom  and  might  and 
main,  but — prut ! — he  might  as  well  have  tried  to  bale  out  the  great  ocean 
with  a  bucket. 

At  noontide  who  should  come  to  the  stable  but  the  pretty  Swan 
Maiden  herself. 

"  When  one  is  tired,  one  should  rest  for  a  while,"  said  she  ;  "  come  and 
lay  your  head  in  my  lap." 

The  prince  was  glad  enough  to  do  as  she  said,  for  nothing  was  to  be 
gained  by  working  at  that  task.  So  he  laid  his  head  in  her  lap,  and  she 
combed  his  hair  with  a  golden  comb  till  he  fell  fast  asleep.  When  he 
awoke  the  Swan  Maiden  was  gone,  the  sun  was  setting,  and  the  stable  was 
as  clean  as  a  plate.  Presently  he  heard  the  old  witch  coming,  so  up  he 


epeD  !Bif  chouse 


236  THE  SWAN   MAIDEN. 

jumped  and  began  clearing  away  a  straw  here  and  a  speck  there,  just  as 
though  he  were  finishing  the  work. 

"  You  never  did  this  by  yourself !"  said  the  old  witch,  and  her  brows 
grew  as  black  as  a  thunder-storm. 

"  That  may  be  so,  and  that  may  not  be  so,"  said  the  king's  son,  "  but 
you  lent  no  hand  to  help ;  so  now  may  I  have  the  one  who  builds  the 
fire  and  draws  the  water?" 

At  this  the  old  witch  shook  her  head.  "  No,"  said  she,  "  there  is  more 
to  be  done  yet  before  you  can  have  what  you  ask  for.  If  you  can  thatch 
the  roof  of  the  stable  with  bird  feathers,  no  two  of  which  shall  be  of  the 
same  color,  and  can  do  it  between  the  rise  and  the  set  of  sun  to-morrow, 
then  you  shall  have  your  sweetheart  and  welcome.  But  if  you  fail  your 
bones  shall  be  ground  as  fine  as  malt  in  the  mill." 

Very  well ;  that  suited  the  king's  son  well  enough.  So  at  sunrise  he 
arose  and  went  into  the  fields  with  his  gun ;  but  if  there  were  birds  to  be 
shot,  it  was  few  of  them  that  he  saw  ;  for  at  noontide  he  had  but  two, 
and  they  were  both  of  a  color.  At  that  time  who  should  come  to  him 
but  the  Swan  Maiden. 

"  One  should  not  tramp  and  tramp  all  day  with  never  a  bit  of  rest," 
said  she ;  "  come  hither  and  lay  your  head  in  my  lap  for  a  while." 

The  prince  did  as  she  bade  him,  and  the  maiden  again  combed  his 
hair  with  a  golden  comb  until  he  fell  asleep.  When  he  awoke  the  sun  was 
setting,  and  his  work  was  done.  He  heard  the  old  witch  coming,  so  up 
he  jumped  to  the  roof  of  the  stable  and  began  laying  a  feather  here  and 
a  feather  there,  for  all  the  world  as  though  he  were  just  finishing  his  task. 

"  You  never  did  that  work  alone,"  said  the  old  witch. 

"  That  may  be  so,  and  that  may  not  be  so,"  said  the  prince ;  "  all  the 
same,  it  was  none  of  your  doing.  So  now  may  I  have  the  one  who  draws 
the  water  and  builds  the  fire  ?" 

But  the  witch  shook  her  head.  "  No,"  said  she,  "  there  is  still  another 
task  to  do  before  that.  Over  yonder  is  a  fir-tree;  on  the  tree  is  a  crow's 
nest,  and  in  the  nest  are  three  eggs.  If  you  can  harry  that  nest  to-morrow 
between  the  rising  and  the  setting  of  the  sun,  neither  breaking  nor  leaving 
a  single  egg,  you  shall  have  that  for  which  you  ask." 

Very  well ;  that  suited  the  prince.  The  next  morning  at  the  rising  of 
the  sun  he  started  off  to  find  the  fir-tree,  and  there  was  no  trouble  in  the 
finding  I  can  tell  you,  for  it  was  more  than  a  hundred  feet  high,  and  as 
smooth  as  glass  from  root  to  tip.  As  for  climbing  it,  he  might  as  well  have 


young  J^mce » 


238  THE  SWAN  MAIDEN. 

tried  to  climb  a  moonbeam,  for  in  spite  of  all  his  trying  he  did  nothing  but 
slip  and  slip.  By  and  by  came  the  Swan  Maiden  as  she  had  come  before. 

"  Do  you  climb  the  fir-tree?"  said  she. 

"  None  too  well,"  said  the  king's  son. 

"  Then  I  may  help  you  in  a  hard  task,"  said  she. 

She  let  down  the  braids  of  her  golden  hair,  so  that  it  hung  down  all 
about  her  and  upon  the  ground,  and  then  she  began  singing  to  the  wind. 
She  sang  and  sang,  and  by  and  by  the  wind  began  to  blow,  and,  catching 
up  the  maiden's  hair,  carried  it  to  the  top  of  the  fir-tree,  and  there  tied 
it  to  the  branches.  Then  the  prince  climbed  the  hair  and  so  reached  the 
nest.  -There  were  the  three  eggs;  he  gathered  them,  and  then  he  came 
down  as  he  had  gone  up.  After  that  the  wind  came  again  and  loosed 
the  maiden's  hair  from  the  branches,  and  she  bound  it  up  as  it  was 
before. 

"  Now,  listen,"  said  she  to  the  prince :  "  when  the  old  witch  asks  you 
for  the  three  crow's  eggs  which  you  have  gathered,  tell  her  that  they 
belong  to  the  one  who  found  them.  She  will  not  be  able  to  take  them 
from  you,  and  they  are  worth  something,  I  can  tell  you." 

At  sunset  the  old  witch  came  hobbling  along,  and  there  sat  the  prince 
at  the  foot  of  the  fir-tree.  "  Have  you  gathered  the  crow's  eggs  ?"  said  she. 

"  Yes,"  said  the  prince,  "  here  they  are  in  my  handkerchief.  And  now 
may  I  have  the  one  who  draws  the  water  and  builds  the  fire?" 

"  Yes,"  said  the  old  witch, "  you  may  have  her ;  only  give  me  my  crow's 
eggs." 

"  No,"  said  the  prince,  "  the  crow's  eggs  are  none  of  yours,  for  they 
belong  to  him  who  gathered  them." 

When  the  old  witch  found  that  she  was  not  to  get  her  crow's  eggs 
in  that  way,  she  tried  another,  and  began  using  words  as  sweet  as  honey. 
Come,  come,  there  should  be  no  hard  feeling  between  them.  The  prince 
had  served  her  faithfully,  and  before  he  went  home  with  what  he  had 
come  for  he  should  have  a  good  supper,  for  it  is  ill  to  travel  on  an  empty 
stomach. 

So  she  brought  the  prince  into  the  house,  and  then  she  left  him  while 
she  went  to  put  the  pot  on  the  fire,  and  to  sharpen  the  bread  knife  on  the 
stone  door-step. 

While  the  prince  sat  waiting  for  the  witch,  there  came  a  tap  at  the  door, 
and  whom  should  it  be  but  the  pretty  Swan  Maiden. 

"  Come,"  said  she,  "  and  bring  the  three  eggs  with  you,  for  the  knife 


omonof  Jjowptfttieal  * 


that  the  old  witch  is  sharpening  is  for  you,  and  so  is  the  great  pot  on  the 
fire,  for  she  means  to  pick  your  bones  in  the  morning." 

She  led  the  prince  down  into  the  kitchen ;  there  they  made  a  figure 
out  of  honey  and  barley-meal,  so  that  it  was  all  soft  and  sticky;  then  the 
maiden  dressed  the  figure  in  her  own  clothes  and  set  it  in  the  chimney- 
corner  by  the  fire. 

After  that  was  done,  she  became  a  swan  again,  and,  taking  the  prince 
upon  her  back,  she  flew  away,  over  hill  and  over  dale. 

As  for  the  old  witch,  she  sat  on  the  stone  door-step,  sharpening  her 
knife.  By  and  by  she  came  in,  and,  look  as  she  might,  there  was  no  prince 
to  be  found. 

Then  if  anybody  was  ever  in  a  rage  it  was  the  old  witch ;  off  she  wertf, 
storming  and  fuming,  until  she  came  to  the  kitchen.  There  sat  the  woman 
of  honey  and  barley-meal  beside  the  fire,  dressed  in  the  maiden's  clothes, 
and  the  old  woman  thought  that  it  was  the  girl  herself.  "Where  is  your 
sweetheart  ?"  said  she ;  but  to  this  the  woman  of  honey  and  barley-meal 
answered  never  a  word. 


240  THE   SWAN   MAIDEN. 

"  How  now!  are  you  dumb?"  cried  the  old  witch;  "  I  will  see  whether  I 
cannot  bring  speech  to  your  lips."  She  raised  her  hand — slap  ! — she  struck, 
and  so  hard  was  the  blow  that  her  hand  stuck  fast  to  the  honey  and  barley- 
meal.  "What!"  cried  she,  "will  you  hold  me?" — slap! — she  struck  with 
the  other  hand,  and  it  too  stuck  fast.  So  there  she  was,  and,  for  all  that  I 
know,  she  is  sticking  to  the  woman  of  honey  and  barley-meal  to  this  day. 

As  for  the  Swan  Maiden  and  the  prince,  they  flew  over  the  seven  high 
mountains,  the  seven  deep  valleys,  and  the  seven  wide  rivers,  until  they 
came  near  to  the  prince's  home  again.  The  Swan  Maiden  lit  in  a  great 
wide  field,  and  there  she  told  the  prince  to  break  open  one  of  the  crow's 
eggs.  The  prince  did  as  she  bade  him,  and  what  should  he  find  but  the 
most  beautiful  little  palace,  all  of  pure  gold  and  silver.  He  set  the  palace 
on  the  ground,  and  it  grew  and  grew  and  grew  until  it  covered  as  much 
ground  as  seven  large  barns.  Then  the  Swan  Maiden  told  him  to  break 
another  egg,  and  he  did  as  she  said,  and  what  should  come  out  of  it  but 
such  great  herds  of  cows  and  sheep  that  they  covered  the  meadow  far  and 
near.  The  Swan  Maiden  told  him  to  break  the  third  egg,  and  .out  of  it 
came  scores  and  scores  of  servants  all  dressed  in  gold-and-silver  livery. 

That  morning,  when  the  king  looked  out  of  his  bedroom  window,  there 
stood  the  splendid  castle  of  silver  and  gold.  Then  he  called  all  of  his 
people  together,  and  they  rode  over  to  see  what  it  meant.  On  the  way 
they  met  such  herds  of  fat  sheep  and  cattle  that  the  king  had  never  seen 
the  like  in  all  of  his  life  before ;  and  when  he  came  to  the  fine  castle,  there 
were  two  rows  of  servants  dressed  in  clothes  of  silver  and  gold,  ready  to 
meet  him.  But  when  he  came  to  the  door  of  the  castle,  there  stood  the 
prince  himself.  Then  there  was  joy  and  rejoicing,  you  may  be  sure !  only 
the  two  elder  brothers  looked  down  in  the  mouth,  for  since  the  young 
prince  had  found  the  thief  who  stole  the  golden  pears,  their  father's  king- 
dom was  not  for  them.  But  the  prince  soon  set  their  minds  at  rest  on 
that  score,  for  he  had  enough  and  more  than  enough  of  his  own. 

After  that  the  prince  and  the  Swan  Maiden  were  married,  and  a  grand 
wedding  they  had  of  it,  with  music  of  fiddles  and  kettle-drums,  and  plenty 
to  eat  and  to  drink.  I,  too,  was  there ;  but  all  of  the  good  red  wine  ran 
down  over  my  tucker,  so  that  not  a  drop  of  it  passed  my  lips,  and  I  had 
to  come  away  empty. 

And  that  is  all. 


Seven  O  clock- 


Ihe  Work  is  over  foi 

iThe  Sky  is  pale,  and  far  away 

The  Village  Children  shout  at  Play . 


K.TRdel. 

W  C?rou>3 

cooL 


Now  from  his /&/*  the  Toad  comes  out, 
And  blinks  his^x^,  and  hops  about , 
Andlikes  the  pleasant^/r,  no  doubt. 


16 


The 

Three  Little  Pigs 
and  the 

OGRE. 


XIX. 


HERE  were  three  nice,  fat  little  pigs.  The  first  was 
small,  the  second  was  smaller,  and  the  third  was  the 
smallest  of  all.  And  these  three  little  pigs  thought 
of  going  out  into  the  woods  to  gather  acorns,  for 
there  were  better  acorns  there  than  here. 

"  There's  a  great  ogre  who  lives  over  yonder  in 
the  woods,"  says  the  barn-yard  cock. 

"  And  he  will  eat  you  up,  body  and  bones,"  says 
the  speckled  hen. 

"  And  there  will  be  an  end  of  you,"  says  the  black  drake. 
"  If  folks  only  knew  what  was  good  for  them,  they  would  stay  at  home 
and  make  the  best  of  what  they  had  there,"  said  the  old  grey  goose  who 
laid  eggs  under  the  barn,  and  who  had  never  gone  out  into  the  world  or 
had  had  a  peep  of  it  beyond  the  garden  gate. 

But  no ;   the  little  pigs  would  go  out  into  the  world,  whether  or  no ; 
"  for,"  said  they,  "  if  we  stay  at  home  because  folks  shake  their  heads, 
we  will  never  get  the  best  acorns  that  are  to  be  had ;"  and  there  was  more 
than  one  barleycorn  of  truth  in  that  chaff,  I  can  tell  you. 
So  out  into  the  woods  they  went. 

They  hunted  for  acorns  here  and  they  hunted  for  acorns  there,  and  by 
and  by  whom  should  the  smallest  of  all  the  little  pigs  meet  but  the  great, 
wicked  ogre  himself. 


244  THE  THREE   LITTLE  PIGS  AND  THE  OGRE. 

"  Aha !"  says  the  great,  wicked  ogre,  "  it  is  a  nice,  plump  little  pig 
that  I  have  been  wanting  for  my  supper  this  many  a  day  past.  So  you 
may  just  come  along  with  me  now." 

"  Oh,  Master  Ogre,"  squeaked  the  smallest  of  the  little  pigs  in  the 
smallest  of  voices — "  oh,  Master  Ogre,  don't  eat  me !  There's  a  bigger  pig 
back  of  me,  and  he  will  be  along  presently." 

So  the  ogre  let  the  smallest  of  the  little  pigs  go,  for  he  would  rather 
have  a  larger  pig  if  he  could  get  it. 

By  and  by  came  the  second  little  pig.  "  Aha !"  says  the  great,  wicked 
ogre,  "  I  have  been  wanting  just  such  a  little  pig  as  you  for  my  supper  for 
this  many  a  day  past.  So  you  may  just  come  along  with  me  now." 

"  Oh,  Master  Ogre,"  said  the  middle-sized  pig,  in  his  middle-sized  voice, 
"  don't  take  me  for  your  supper ;  there's  a  bigger  pig  than  I  am  coming 
along  presently.  Just  wait  for  him." 

Well,  the  ogre  was  satisfied  to  do  that ;  so  he  waited,  and  by  and  by, 
sure  enough,  came  the  largest  of  the  little  pigs. 

"  And  now,"  says  the  great,  wicked  ogre,  "  I  will  wait  no  longer,  for 
you  are  just  the  pig  I  want  for  my  supper,  and  so  you  may  march  along 
with  me." 

But  the  largest  of  the  little  pigs  had  his  wits  about  him,  I  can  tell  you. 
"  Oh,  very  well,"  says  he ;  "  if  I  am  the  shoe  that  fits  there  is  no  use  in 
hunting  for  another ;  only,  have  you  a  roasted  apple  to  put  in  my  mouth 
when  I  am  cooked  ?  for  no  one  ever  heard  of  a  little  pig  brought  on  the 
table  without  a  roast  apple  in  its  mouth." 

No ;  the  ogre  had  no  roasted  apple. 

Dear,  dear !  that  was  a  great  pity.  If  he  would  wait  for  a  little  while, 
the  largest  of  the  little  pigs  would  run  home  and  fetch  one,  and  then  things 
would  be  as  they  should. 

Yes,  the  ogre  was  satisfied  with  that.  So  off  ran  the  little  pig,  and 
the  ogre  sat  down  on  a  stone  and  waited  for  him. 

Well,  he  waited  and  he  waited  and  he  waited  and  he  waited,  but  not  a 
tip  of  a  hair  of  the  little  pig  did  he  see  that  day,  as  you  can  guess  without 
my  telling  you. 

And  Tommy  Pfouce  tells  me  that  the  great,  wicked  ogre  is  not  the 
only  one  who  has  gone  without  either  pig  or  roast  apple,  because  when  he 
could  get  the  one  he  would  not  take  it  without  the  other. 

"And  now,"  says  the  cock  and  the  speckled  hen  and  the  black  drake 
and  the  old  grey  goose  who  laid  her  eggs  under  the  barn,  and  had  never 


J)c  iDgre  meet*  tip  tljree 

little  pig*  tntbefojej5t,totytl)et 

tt)  cp  toent  to  gather  acojnia . 


246  THE  THREE   LITTLE  PIGS  AND  THE  OGRE. 

been  out  into  the  world  beyond  the  garden-gate — "  and  now  perhaps  you 
will  run  out  into  the  world  and  among  ogres  no  more.  Are  there  not 
good  enough  acorns  at  home? 

Perhaps  there  were ;  but  that  was  not  what  the  three  little  pigs  thought. 
"  See,  now,"  said  the  smallest  of  the  three  little  pigs,  "  if  one  is  afraid  of 
the  water,  one  will  never  catch  any  fish.  I,  for  one,  am  going  out  into 
the  woods  to  get  a  few  acorns." 

So  out  into  the  woods  he  went,  and  there  he  found  all  of  the  acorns 
that  he  wanted.  But,  on  his  way  home,  whom  should  he  meet  but  the 
great,  wicked  ogre. 

"  Aha  !"  says  the  ogre, "  and  is  that  you  ?" 

Oh,  yes,  it  was  nobody  else ;  but  had  the  ogre  come  across  three  fellows 
tramping  about  in  the  woods  down  yonder  ? 

No,  the  ogre  had  met  nobody  in  the  woods  that  day. 

"  Dear,  dear,"  says  the  smallest  little  pig, "  but  that  is  a  pity,  for  those 
three  fellows  were  three  wicked  robbers,  and  they  have  just  hidden  a  meal- 
bag  full  of  money  in  that  hole  up  in  the  tree  yonder." 

You  can  guess  how  the  ogre  pricked  up  his  ears  at  this,  and  how  he 
stared  till  his  eyes  were  as  big  as  saucers. 

"  Just  wait,"  said  he  to  the  smallest  little  pig,  "  and  I  will  be  down  again 
in  a  minute."  So  he  laid  his  jacket  to  one  side  and  up  the  tree  he  climbed, 
for  he  wanted  to  find  that  bag  of  money,  and  he  meant  to  have  it. 

"  Do  you  find  the  hole  ?"  says  the  smallest  of  the  little  pigs. 

Yes ;  the  ogre  had  found  the  hole. 

"And  do  you  find  the  money?"  says  the  smallest  of  the  little  pigs. 

No ;  the  ogre  could  find  no  money. 

"  Then  good-bye,"  says  the  smallest  of  the  little  pigs,  and  off  he  trotted 
home,  leaving  the  ogre  to  climb  down  the  tree  again  as  he  chose. 

"  And  now,  at  least,  you  will  go  out  into  the  woods  no  more,"  says  the 
cock,  the  speckled  hen,  the  black  drake,  and  the  grey  goose. 

Oh,  well,  there  was  no  telling  what  the  three  little  pigs  would  do  yet, 
they  would  have  to  wait  and  see. 

One  day  it  was  the  middle-sized  little  pig  who  would  go  out  into  the 
woods,  for  he  also  had  a  mind  to  taste  the  acorns  there. 

So  out  into  the  woods  the  middle-sized  little  pig  went,  and  there  he  had 
all  the  acorns  that  he  wanted. 

But  by  and  by  the  ogre  came  along.  "  Aha !"  says  he.  "  Now  I  have 
you  for  sure  and  certain." 


£Dflre  climb*  t^e  tree 

fog  tbemompf  bat  ^t  btlitfct*  to 


248  THE  THREE   LITTLE   PIGS  AND  THE  OGRE. 

But  the  middle-sized  little  pig  just  stood  and  looked  at  a  great  rock 
just  in  front  of  him,  with  all  of  his  might  and  main.  "  Sh-h-h-h-h-h !"  says 
he, "  I  am  not  to  be  talked  to  or  bothered  now !" 

Hoity-toity !  Here  was  a  pretty  song,  to  be  sure  !  And  why  was  the 
middle-sized  pig  not  to  be  talked  to  ?  That  was  what  the  ogre  should 
like  to  know. 

Oh,  the  rrriddle-sized  little  pig  was  looking  at  what  was  going  on  under 
the  great  rock  yonder,  for  he  could  see  the  little  folk  brewing  more  beer 
than  thirty-seven  men  could  drink. 

So !     Why,  the  ogre  would  like  to  see  that  for  himself. 

"  Very  well,"  says  the  middle-sized  little  pig,  "  there  is  nothing  easier 
than  to  learn  that  trick!  just  take  a  handful  of  leaves  from  yonder  bush 
and  rub  them  over  your  eyes,  and  then  shut  them  tight  and  count 
fifty." 

Well,  the  ogre  would  have  a  try  at  that.  So  he  gathered  a  handful  of 
the  leaves  and  rubbed  them  over  his  eyes,  just  as  the  middle-sized  pig  had 
said. 

"And  now  are  you  ready?"  said  the  middle-sized  little  pig. 

Yes ;  the  ogre  was  ready. 

"  Then  shut  your  eyes  and  count,"  said  the  middle-sized  little  pig. 

So  the  ogre  shut  them  as  tightly  as  he  could  and  began  to  count, 
"  One,  two,  three,  four,  five,"  and  so  on ;  and  while  he  was  counting,  why, 
the  little  pig  was  running  away  home  again. 

By  and  by  the  ogre  bawled  out  "  Fifty  !  !  /"  and  opened  his  eyes,  for 
he  was  done.  Then  he  saw  not  more,  but  less,  than  he  had  seen  before, 
for  the  little  pig  was  not  there. 

And  now  it  was  the  largest  of  the  three  little  pigs  who  began  to  talk 
about  going  out  into  the  woods  to  look  for  acorns. 

"  You  had  better  stay  at  home  and  take  things  as  they  come.  The 
crock  that  goes  often  to  the  well  gets  broken  at  last ;"  that  was  what  the 
cock,  the  speckled  hen,  the  black  drake,  and  the  grey  goose  said ;  and  they 
thought  themselves  very  wise  to  talk  as  they  did. 

But  no ;  the  little  pig  wanted  to  go  out  into  the  woods,  and  into  the 
woods  the  little  pig  would  go,  ogre  or  no  ogre. 

After  he  had  eaten  all  of  the  acorns  that  he  wanted  he  began  to  think 
of  going  home  again,  but  just  then  the  ogre  came  stumping  along.  "  Aha !" 
says  he,  "  we  have  met  again,  have  we  ?" 

"  Yes,"  said  the  largest  of  the  three  little  pigs,  "  we  have.     And  I  want 


to  say  that  I  could  find  no  roast  apple  at  home,  and  so  I  did  not  come  back 
again." 

Yes,  yes,  that  was  all  very  fine ;  but  they  should  have  a  settling  of  old 
scores  now.  The  largest  of  the  three  little  pigs  might  just  come  along 
home  with  the  ogre,  and  to-morrow  he  should  be  made  into  sausages ; 
for  there  was  to  be  no  trickery  this  time,  so  there  was  an  end  of  the 
matter. 

Come,  come !  the  ogre  must  not  be  too  testy.  There  was  such  a  thing 
as  having  too  much  pepper  in  the  pudding — that  was  what  the  largest  of 
the  little  pigs  said.  If  it  were  sausages  that  the  ogre  was  after,  maybe  the 
pig  could  help  him.  Over  home  at  the  farm  yonder  was  a  storehouse 
filled  with  more  sausages  and  good  things  than  two  men  could  count. 
There  was  a  window  where  the  ogre  could  just  squeeze  through.  Only 


250  THE  THREE   LITTLE   PIGS  AND  THE   OGRE. 

he  must  promise  to  eat  what  he  wanted  and  to  carry  nothing  away  with 
him. 

Well,  the  ogre  promised  to  eat  all  he  wanted  in  the  storehouse,  and  then 
off  they  went  together. 

By  and  by  they  came  to  the  storehouse  at  the  farm,  and  there,  sure 
enough,  was  a  window,  and  it  was  just  large  enough  for  the  ogre  to  squeeze 
through  without  a  button  to  spare  in  the  size. 

Dear,  dear!  how  the  ogre  did  stuff  himself  with  the  sausages  and 
puddings  and  other  good  things  in  the  storehouse. 

By  and  by  the  little  pig  bawled  out  as  loud  as  he  could,  "  Have  you  had 
enough  yet  ?" 

"  Hush-sh-sh-sh-sh-sh-sh !"  says  the  ogre,  "don't  talk  so  loud,  or  you'll 
be  rousing  the  folks  and  having  them  about  our  ears  like  a  hive  of 
bees." 

"  No,"  bawled  the  little  pig,  louder  than  before,  "  but  tell  me,  have  you 
had  enough  yet  ?" 

"  Yes,  yes,"  says  the  ogre,  "  I  have  had  almost,  enough,  only  be  still 
about  it !" 

"  Very  well !"  bawled  the  little  pig,  as  loud  as  he  could,  "  if  you  have 
had  enough,  and  if  you  have  eaten  all  of  the  sausages  and  all  of  the  pud- 
dings you  can  stuff,  it  is  about  time  that  you  were  going,  for  here  comes 
the  farmer  and  two  of  his  men  to  see  what  all  the  stir  is  about." 

And,  sure  enough,  the  farmer  and  his  men  were  coming  as  fast  as  they 
could  lay  foot  to  the  ground. 

But  when  the  ogre  heard  them  coming,  he  felt  sure  that  it  was  time 
that  he  was  getting  away  home  again,  and  so  he  tried  to  get  out  of  the 
same  window  that  he  had  gotten  in  a  little  while  before.  But  he  had 
stuffed  himself  with  so  much  of  the  good  things  that  he  had  swelled  like 
everything,  and  there  he  stuck  in  the  storehouse  window  like  a  cork  in  a 
bottle,  and  could  budge  neither  one  way  nor  the  other;  and  that  was  a 
pretty  pickle  to  be  in. 

"  Oho  !"  says  the  farmer,  "  you  were  after  my  sausages  and  my  puddings, 
were  you  ?  Then  you  will  come  no  more." 

And  that  was  so ;  for  when  the  farmer  and  his  men  were  done  with  the 
ogre  he  never  went  into  the  woods  again,  for  he  could  not. 

As  for  the  three  little  pigs,  they  trotted  away  into  the  woods  every  day 
of  their  lives,  for  there  was  nobody  nowadays  to  stop  them  from  gathering 
all  the  acorns  that  they  wanted. 


0gre  !5ticfe)8  fast  fn  tfce  toinbtito . 


Now,  don't  you  believe  folks  when  they  say  that  this  is  all  stuff  and 
nonsense  that  I  have  been  telling  you ;  for  if  you  turn  it  upside  down  and 
look  in  the  bottom  of  it  you  will  find  that  there  is  more  than  one  grain  of 
truth  there ;  that  is  if  you  care  to  scratch  among  the  chaff  for  it.  And 
that  is  the  end  of  this  story. 


Eight  O'clock 


Cooler 
winds. 


ie  little  Bats  fly 
JAbout  in  the  Sky, 
And  the  fCobold  's  wide  awake. 
The  great  black  Trees 
Are  stirred  in  thefireeze, 
And  a  curious  So und they  make . 


are  done, 
And  the  Prayers  are  said , 
And  the  Children  are  snugly 
Tucked  in  Bed.  K  j 


XX. 


HE  wind  of  heaven  blows  the  chips  and  the  straws  to- 
gether. 

There  was  a  fiddler,  a  tinker,  and  a  shoemaker 
jogging  along  the  road,  but  whatever  brought  them 
in  company  is  more  than  I  am  able  to  tell  you. 
All  the  same,  there  they  were,  and,  after  all,  that  is 
the  kernel  of  the  nut. 

The  fiddler  was  as  merry  a  little  toad  as  ever  a 
body  could  wish  to  see ;  as  for  the  tinker  and  the  shoemaker,  why,  they 
were  as  sour  as  bad  beer. 

Well,  they  plodded  along,  all  three  of  them,  until  by  and  by  they  came 
to  a  cross  -  road,  and  there  sat  an  old  body  begging ;  "  Dear,  good,  kind 
gentlemen,  give  a  poor  old  woman  a  penny  or  two.  Do  now." 

"  Pooh !"  says  the  tinker  and  the  shoemaker,  and  off  they  walked 
with  their  noses  in  the  air  as  though  they  were  hunting  for  flies  up 
yonder. 

As  for  the  fiddler,  he  had  another  kind  of  a  heart  under  his  jacket ; 
"  Come,"  says  he,  "  we  are  all  chicks  in  the  same  puddle."  So  he  gave  the 
old  woman  all  that  he  had,  which  was  only  two  pennies. 

"  A  cake  for  a  pie,"  said  the  old  woman ;  "  and  what  would  you  like  to 


256  THE  STAFF  AND  THE   FIDDLE. 

have  in  the  way  of  a  wish  ?  for  all  that  you  have  to  do  is  to  ask,  and  it 
shall  be  granted." 

This  old  woman  was  a  famous  wise  one,  I  can  tell  you,  though  the 
fiddler  knew  nothing  of  that. 

The  fiddler  thought  and  thought,  but  there  was  little  that  he  had  to 
wish  for;  nevertheless,  since  they  were  in  the  way  of  asking  and  giving, 
and  seeing  that  his  body  was  none  of  the  largest,  he  would  like  to  have  it 
for  a  wish  that  whenever  he  should  say,  "  Rub-a-dub-dub,"  the  staff  in  his 
hand  would  up  and  fight  for  him. 

So !  and  was  that  all  that  he  wanted  ?  Then  it  was  granted  and  welcome, 
for  it  was  little  enough. 

After  that  they  said,  "  Good-morning,"  and  the  fiddler  went  one  way 
and  the  old  woman  the  other. 

So  the  three  companions  plodded  along  together  until,  by  and  by, 
night  came,  and  there  they  were,  in  a  deep  forest,  with  branches  over 
their  heads  and  not  a  peep  out  from  under  the  trees,  no  matter  where 
they  might  look ;  and  that  was  not  the  pleasantest  thing  for  them,  I  can 
tell  you.  But  by  and  by  they  saw  a  light,  and  then  the  world  looked  up 
with  them  again.  So  they  hurried  along  more  rapidly,  and  presently  came 
to  the  house  where  the  light  was  shining ;  and,  after  all,  it  was  not  much  to 
look  at. 

Rap,  tap,  tap !  they  knocked  at  the  door,  but  nobody  came ;  so  they 
opened  it  for  themselves  and  walked  in. 

No ;  there  was  no  one  at  home,  but  there  was  a  table  spread  with  a 
smoking  hot  supper,  and  places  for  three.  Down  they  sat  without  waiting 
for  the  bidding,  for  their  hunger  was  as  sharp  as  vinegar. 

Well,  they  ate  and  they  ate  and  they  ate  until  they  could  eat  no  more, 
and  then  they  turned  around  and  roasted  their  toes  at  the  warm  fire. 

That  was  all  very  well  and  good,  but  by  and  by  all  the  wood  was 
burned,  and  then  who  was  to  go  out  into  the  dark  forest  and  fetch  another 
armful? 

"  Not  I,"  says  the  tinker. 

"  Not  I,"  says  the  shoemaker. 

And  so  it  fell  to  the  lot  of  the  fiddler,  and  off  he  went. 

But  many  a  one  spills  the  milk-mug  to  save  the  water-jug,  and  so  it 
was  with  the  tinker  and  the  shoemaker ;  for,  while  they  sat  warming  their 
shins  at  the  fire  and  rubbing  their  hands  over  their  knees,  in  walked  an 
ugly  little  troll  no  taller  than  a  yard-stick,  but  with  a  head  as  big  as  a 


tyfWtr  gibe*  t^e  olb  too 

manaUtfjatI)c^aj5inbi! 


258  THE   STAFF  AND  THE  FIDDLE. 

cabbage,  and  a  good  stout  cudgel  twice  as  long  as  himself  in  his  hand ;  as 
for  his  eyes,  why,  they  were  as  big  as  your  mother's  teacups. 

"  I  want  something  to  eat,"  says  he. 

"  You'll  get  nothing  here,"  says  the  tinker  and  the  shoemaker. 

"  Yes,  but  I  will,"  says  the  little  manikin. 

"  No,  but  you  will  not,"  says  the  tinker  and  the  shoemaker. 

"  That  we'll  see,"  says  the  manikin ;  whereupon  he  spat  upon  his  hands, 
snatched  up  his  club,  and,  without  more  ado,  fell  upon  the  tinker  and  the 
shoemaker,  and  began  beating  them  with  all  his  might  and  main.  My 
goodness,  you  should  have  seen  how  they  hopped  about  like  two  peas  on 
a  drum-head,  and  you  should  have  heard  how  they  bellowed  and  bawled 
for  mercy !  But  the  little  ugly  troll  never  stopped  until  he  was  too  tired 
to  drub  them  any  more ;  then  he  went  away  whither  he  had  come,  and  all 
that  the  two  fellows  could  do  was  to  rub  the  places  that  smarted  the  most. 

By  and  by  in  came  the  fiddler  with  his  armful  of  wood,  but  never  a 
word  did  the  tinker  and  the  shoemaker  say,  for  they  had  no  notion  of 
telling  how  such  a  little  manikin  had  dusted  the  coats  of  two  great  hulking 
fellows  like  themselves ;  only  the  next  day  they  thought  that  it  would  be 
well  to  rest  where  they  were,  for  their  bones  were  too  sore  to  be  jogging. 
So  they  lolled  around  the  house  all  day,  and  found  everything  that  they 
wanted  to  eat  in  the  cupboards. 

After  supper  there  was  more  wood  to  be  brought  in  from  the  forest, 
and  this  time  it  was  the  tinker  and  the  shoemaker  who  went  to  fetch  it, 
for  they  had  settled  it  between  them  that  the  fiddler  was  to  have  a  taste 
of  the  same  broth  that  they  had  supped. 

Sure  enough,  by  and  by  in  came  the  ugly  little  troll  with  the  great 
long  cudgel. 

"  I  want  something  to  eat,"  says  he. 

"  There  it  is,  brother,"  says  the  fiddler, "  help  yourself." 

"  It  is  you  who  shall  wait  on  me,"  says  the  ugly  little  troll. 

"  Tut !"  says  the  fiddler,  "  how  you  talk,  neighbor ;  have  you  no  hands 
of  your  own  ?" 

"  You  shall  wait  on  me,"  says  the  manikin. 

"  I  shall  not,"  says  the  fiddler. 

"  That  we  will  see,"  says  the  manikin,  and  he  spat  upon  his  hands  and 
gripped  his  cudgel. 

"  Hi !"  says  the  fiddler,  "  and  is  that  the  game  you  are  playing  ? 
Then,  rub-a-dub-dub !"  says  he. 


260  THE  STAFF  AND  THE  FIDDLE. 

Pop  ! — up  jumps  his  staff  from  the  corner  where  he  had  stood  it,  and 
then  you  should  have  seen  the  dust  fly  !  This  time  it  was  the  manikin 
who  hopped  over  the  chairs  and  begged  and  bawled  for  mercy.  As  for 
the  fiddler,  he  stood  by  with  his  hands  in  his  pockets  and  whistled.  By 
and  by  the  manikin  found  the  door,  and  out  he  jumped  with  the  fiddler 
at  his  heels.  But  the  fiddler  was  not  quick  enough,  for,  before  he  could 
catch  him,  the  little  troll  popped  into  a  great  hole  in  the  ground  like  a 
frog  into  a  well ;  and  there  was  an  end  to  that  business. 

After  a  while  the  tinker  and  the  shoemaker  came  back  from  the  forest 
with  their  load  of  wood,  and  then  how  the  fiddler  did  laugh  at  them,  for 
he  saw  very  well  how  the  wind  had  been  blowing  with  them.  As  for  him, 
he  was  all  for  following  the  little  manikin  into  the  hole  in  the  ground ;  so 
they  hunted  here  and  they  hunted  there,  until  they  found  a  great  basket 
and  a  rope,  and  then  the  tinker  and  the  shoemaker  lowered  the  fiddler 
and  his  staff  down  into  the  pit. 

Down  he  went  ever  so  deep  until  he  reached  the  bottom,  and  there  he 
found  a  great  room.  The  first  body  whom  he  saw.  was  a  princess  as  pretty 
as  a  ripe  apple,  but  looking,  oh,  so  sad  !  at  being  in  such  a  place.  The  next 
he  saw  was  the  ugly  little  troll,  who  sat  in  the  corner  and  growled  like  our 
cat  when  the  dog  comes  into  the  kitchen. 

"  So !"  says  the  fiddler,  "  there  you  are,  are  you  ?  Then  it  is  rub-a-dub- 
dub  again."  And  this  time  before  the  drubbing  was  stopped  it  was  all 
over  with  the  troll. 

And  then  who  was  glad  but  the  pretty  princess.  She  flung  her  arms 
around  the  merry  little  fiddler's  neck,  and  gave  him  a  right  good  smacking 
kiss  or  two,  and  that  paid  a  part  of  the  score,  I  can  tell  you.  Then  they 
sat  down  and  the  pretty  princess  told  him  all  about  how  the  troll  had 
carried  her  off  a  year  and  more  ago,  and  had  kept  her  in  this  place  ever 
since.  After  that  she  took  a  pure  gold  ring  off  of  her  finger  and  broke 
it  in  two ;  half  of  it  was  for  the  fiddler  and  half  of  it  was  for  her ;  for  they 
were  sweethearts  now,  and  the  ring  was  to  be  a  love-token. 

Then  the  fiddler  put  the  princess  into  the  basket,  and  the  two  fellows 
above  hauled  her  up.  By  and  by  down  came  the  basket  again,  and  now  it 
was  the  fiddler's  turn.  "  Suppose,"  says  he,  "  that  they  are  up  to  some  of 
their  tricks !"  So  he  tumbled  a  great  stone  into  the  basket  in  the  place  of 
himself.  Sure  enough,  when  the  basket  was  about  half-way  up,  down  it 
came  tumbling,  for  the  rogues  above  had  cut  the  rope,  and  if  the  fiddler  had 
been  there  in  the  place  of  the  stone,  it  would  have  been  all  over  with  him. 


262  THE  STAFF  AND  THE   FIDDLE. 

Then  if  anybody  was  ever  down  in  the  dumps  the  fiddler  was  the 
fellow.  For  there  he  was  down  in  the  pit,  and  he  could  no  more  get  out 
of  his  pickle  than  a  toad  out  of  the  cellar  window.  After  he  had  been  there 
for  ever  so  long  a  time,  he  saw  a  pretty  little  fiddle  that  hung  back  of  the 
cupboard.  "  Aha !"  says  he,  "  there  is  some  butter  to  the  crust  after  all ; 
and  now  we  will  just  have  a  bit  of  a  jig  to  cheer  us  up  a  little."  So  down 
he  sat  and  began  to  play. 

And  then  what  do  you  think  happened  ?  Why,  up  popped  a  little  fellow 
no  higher  than  your  knee  and  as  black  as  your  hat ! 

"  What  do  you  want,  master?"  said  he. 

"  So,"  said  the  fiddler,  "  and  is  that  the  tune  we  play  ?  Well,  I  should 
like  to  get  out  of  this  pit,  that  I  should." 

No  sooner  said  than  done,  for  he  had  hardly  time  to  pick  up  his  staff 
and  tuck  the  fiddle  under  his  arm,  when — whisk ! — he  was  up  above  as 
quick  as  a  wink. 

"  Hi !"  said  he,  "  but  this  is  a  pretty  fiddle  to  own  and  no  mistake !" 
and  off  he  went,  right  foot  foremost. 

After  a  while  he  came  to  the  town  where  the  king  lived,  and  there  was 
a  great  buzzing  and  gossip,  and  this  was  why :  all  the  folks  were  talking 
about  how  the  tinker  and  the  shoemaker  had  brought  back  the  princess 
from  the  ugly  little  troll,  and  of  how  the  king  had  promised  that  whoever 
did  that  was  to  have  her  for  his  wife  and  half  of  the  kingdom  to  boot ; 
but  here  were  two  lads,  and  the  question  was  who  was  to  have  her.  For 
before  they  had  left  the  pit  over  yonder,  the  tinker  and  the  shoemaker  had 
made  the  princess  vow  and  promise  that  she  would  say  nothing  about  how 
they  had  treated  the  fiddler,  and  now  each  fellow  was  saying  that  he  had 
brought  her  up  out  of  the  troll's  den. 

And  the  princess  did  nothing  but  sit  and  cry  and  cry ;  but,  as  for  marry- 
ing, she  vowed  and  declared  that  she  would  not  do  that  till  she  had  a  pair 
of  slippers  of  pure  gold,  and  a  real  diamond  buckle  on  each  slipper ;  and 
nobody  in  all  of  the  town  was  able  to  make  the  kind  that  she  wanted. 

When  the  fiddler  heard  all  this  he  went  straight  to  a  shoemaker's  shop. 
"  Will  you  take  a  journeyman  shoemaker?"  says  he. 

"  What  can  you  do  ?"  says  the  master  shoemaker. 

"  I  can  make  a  pair  of  slippers  such  as  the  princess  wants,  only  I  must 
have  a  room  all  to  myself  to  make  them  in,"  says  the  fiddler. 

When  the  master  shoemaker  heard  this,  he  was  not  long  in  making  up 
his  mind,  so  the  bargain  was  closed  and  that  settled  the  business. 


e  Iittle7blackmannikin . 


As  soon  as  the  fiddler  was  alone  he  drew  out  his  fiddle  and  began  to 
play  a  bit  of  a  jig,  and  there  stood  the  little  black  fellow,  just  as  he  had 
done  before. 

"  What  do  you  want  ?"  says  he. 

"  I  should  like,"  said  the  fiddler,  "  to  have  a  pair  of  slippers  such  as  the 
princess  asks  for,  but  I  only  want  one  buckle  to  the  pair,  and  that  must  be 
made  of  real  diamonds." 


264  THE  STAFF  AND  THE  FIDDLE. 

Oh !  that  was  an  easy  thing  to  have,  and  there  were  the  slippers  just  as 
the  fiddler  had  ordered. 

"  But  there  is  only  one  buckle,"  says  the  master  shoemaker. 

"  Tut !"  says  the  fiddler,  "  turn  no  hairs  grey  for  that,  brother.  Just  tell 
the  princess  that  the  fiddler  has  the  other,  and  matters  will  be  as  smooth  as 
cream." 

Well,  the  master  shoemaker  did  as  the  fiddler  said,  and  you  may  guess 
how  the  princess  opened  her  pretty  eyes  when  she  heard  that  her  sweet- 
heart was  thereabouts.  Nothing  would  suit  her  but  that  she  must  see  that 
journeyman  shoemaker.  But  when  they  sent  to  fetch  him,  he  was  gone. 

And  now  the  shoemaker  and  the  tinker  began  to  talk  again ;  the 
princess  had  been  promised  to  the  man  who  saved  her  from  the  troll,  and 
so  she  must  and  should  choose  one  of  them.  But  no ;  the  princess  was  not 
ready  yet ;  she  would  never  marry  till  she  had  a  pair  of  gloves  of  the  finest 
silk,  all  embroidered  with  silver  and  pearls  and  with  a  ruby  clasp  at  the 
wrist  of  each. 

And  now  came  the  same  dance  with  a  different  tune,  for  nobody  was  to 
be  found  in  all  of  the  town  who  could  make  such  a  pair  of  gloves  as  she 
wanted.  By  and  by  the  matter  came  to  the  fiddler's  ears,  and  off  he  set  to 
the  glover's  shop.  And  did  the  glover  want  an  apprentice  ? 

Yes,  the  glover  wanted  an  apprentice,  but  he  must  know  first  what  the 
other  could  do. 

"  Well,"  said  the  fiddler,  "  if  I  have  a  room  all  to  myself,  I  can  make 
a  pair  of  gloves  such  as  the  princess  asks  for."  And  after  that  he  was  not 
left  to  kick  his  toes  in  the  cold. 

As  soon  as  he  was  alone,  he  drew  out  his  fiddle  and  struck  up  an  air, 
and  there  stood  the  little  black  man  again. 

"  I  would  like,"  said  the  fiddler,  "  to  have  a  pair  of  gloves  such  as  the 
princess  asks  for.  But  there  must  be  only  one  clasp  to  the  wrist,  and  that 
made  all  of  pure  rubies."  That  is  what  he  said,  and  there  were  the  gloves 
without  his  having  to  ask  twice  for  them. 

"  But  there  is  only  one  clasp,"  said  the  glover. 

"Never  mind  that,"  said  the  wonderful  apprentice;  "just  tell  the  prin- 
cess that  the  fiddler  had  the  other,  and  she  will  be  satisfied." 

As  for  the  princess,  she  sent  off  post-haste  for  the  lad  who  had  made 
her  gloves.  But  she  was  behindhand  this  time  too,  for,  when  those  whom 
she  sent  came  to  the  glover's  house,  they  found  nobody  there  but  the  cat 
and  the  kettle,  and  the  master  glover,  for  the  fiddler  was  gone. 


THE   STAFF  AND  THE   FIDDLE.  265 

And  now  the  tinker  and  the  shoemaker  began  again ;  the  princess  had 
her  gloves,  and  she  must  and  should  choose  one  or  the  other  of  them. 

But  no.  First  of  all  the  princess  must  have  a  fine  dress  all  of  white  silk 
with  both  sleeves  looped  up  with  pearls  as  big  as  marbles. 

But  there  was  nobody  to  make  such  a  dress  as  that  in  all  of  the  town, 
till  the  fiddler  went  to  the  master  tailor  and  offered  himself  as  a  journeyman 
workman.  Then  the  dress  came  quickly  enough,  and  with  only  the  tune  of 
a  fiddle.  But  the  loop  of  pearls  on  one  sleeve  was  missing. 

"  And  that  will  never  do  in  the  wide  world,"  says  the  tailor. 

"  Oh,"  says  the  fiddler,  "  that  is  nothing ;  just  tell  the  princess  that  the 
fiddler  has  the  other,  and  she  will  be  satisfied." 

Well,  the  tailor  did  as  he  said,  and  when  the  princess  heard  who  had 
the  pearl  loop,  she  was  satisfied,  just  as  the  fiddler  had  said  she  would  be. 

By  and  by  the  tinker  and  the  shoemaker  began  again ;  the  princess  must 
choose  one  or  the  other  of  them.  And  now  there  was  nothing  left  for  her 
to  do  but  to  say  "Yes."  She  felt  sure  that  the  fiddler  would  be  on  hand  at 
the  right  time,  and  so  a  day  was  fixed  for  choosing  whom  she  would  marry. 

It  was  not  long  before  the  fiddler  heard  of  that,  for  news  flies  fast.  Off 
he  went  by  himself  and  played  a  turn  or  two  on  his  fiddle. 

"  And  what  do  you  want  now  ?"  says  the  little  manikin. 

"  This  time,"  said  the  fiddler,  "  I  want  a  splendid  suit  of  clothes  for 
myself,  all  of  silver  and  gold ;  besides  that,  I  want  a  hat  with  a  great  feather 
in  it  and  a  fine  milk-white  horse. 

So ;  good !  Well,  he  could  have  those  things  easily  enough,  and  there 
they  were. 

So  the  fiddler  dressed  himself  in  his  fine  clothes,  and  then,  when  it  was 
about  time  for  the  princess  to  make  her  choice,  he  mounted  upon  his  great 
milk-white  horse  and  set  off  for  the  king's  house  with  his  staff  across  the 
saddle  in  front  of  him. 

But  you  should  have  seen  how  the  people  looked  as  he  rode  along  the 
street,  for  they  had  never  laid  eyes  upon  such  a  fine  sight  in  all  of  their  lives 
before.  Up  he  rode  to  the  castle,  and  when  he  knocked  at  the  door  they 
did  not  keep  him  waiting  long  out  in  the  cold,  I  can  tell  you. 

There  they  all  sat  at  dinner,  the  tinker  on  one  side  of  the  princess  and 
the  shoemaker  on  the  other.  But  when  they  saw  the  fiddler  in  his  grand 
clothes,  they  thought  that  he  was  some  great  nobleman  for  sure  and  certain, 
for  neither  the  princess  nor  the  two  rogues  knew  who  he  was.  The  folks 
squeezed  together  along  the  bench  and  made  room  for  him ;  so  he  leaned 


266  THE  STAFF  AND  THE  FIDDLE. 

his  staff  in  the  corner  and  down  he  sat,  just  across  the  table  from  the 
princess. 

By  and  by  he  asked  the  princess  if  she  would  drink  a  glass  of  red  wine 
'with  him. 

Yes,  the  princess  would  do  that. 

So  the  fiddler  drank,  and  then  what  did  he  do  but  drop  his  half  of  the 
ring  that  the  princess  had  given  him  into  the  cup,  before  he  passed  it  across 
to  her. 

Then  the  princess  drank,  but  something  bobbed  against  her  lips;  and 
when  she  came  to  look — lo  and  behold ! — there  was  the  half  of  her  ring. 

And  if  anybody  in  all  of  the  world  was  glad,  it  was  the  princess  at  that 
very  moment.  Up  she  stood  before  them  all ;  "  There  is  my  sweetheart," 
says  she,  "  and  I  will  marry  him  and  no  one  else." 

As  for  the  fiddler,  he  just  said,  "  Rub-a-dub-dub,"  and  up  jumped  the 
staff  and  began  to  thump  and  bang  the  tinker  and  the  shoemaker  until  they 
scampered  away  for  dear  life,  and  there  was  an  end  of  them  so  far  as  I 
know,  for  if  you  would  like  to  know  what  happened  to  them  afterwards,  you 
will  have  to  ask  some  one  else. 

The  king  was  ever  so  glad  to  have  the  fiddler  for  a  son-in-law  in  the 
place  either  of  the  tinker  or  the  shoemaker,  for  he  was  a  much  better- 
looking  lad.  Besides,  the  others  had  done  nothing  but  brew  trouble  and 
worriment  ever  since  they  had  come  into  the  house. 

After  that  there  was  a  grand  wedding.  I  too  was  there  at  the  feasting, 
but  I  got  nothing  but  empty  sausage  and  wind  pudding,  and  so  I  carrie 
away  again. 

And  that  is  the  end  of  this  story. 


Nine  O'clock- 


en  all  are  wrapped  in  Slumbers  sweet , 
About  the/&w/e,\vith  stealthy  Tread. 
With  flowered  Gown,  and  night-capped 

" 


Dame  Margery  goes ,  in  Stocking  Feet . 

She  stops  and  listens  at  the  Doors;  £ 

She  sees  that  every  thing  is  right , 
And  safe,  and  quiet  for  the  Night , 

Then  goes  to  Bed,  and  sleeps,  and  snores 

K.P. 


Pride  was  brok 


XXI. 


HERE  was  a  princess  who  was  as  pretty  as  a  picture, 
and  she  was  so  proud  of  that  that  she  would  not  so 
much  as  look  at  a  body;  all  the  same,  there  was 
no  lack  of  lads  who  came  a-wooing,  and  who  would 
have  liked  nothing  so  much  as  to  have  had  her  for 
a  sweetheart  because  she  was  so  good-looking.  But, 
no,  she  would  have  nothing  to  do  with  any  of  them ; 
this  one  was  too  young  and  that  one  was  too  old  ; 

this  one  was  too  lean  and  that  one  was  too  fat ;  this  one  was  too  little 
and  that  one  was  too  big ;  this  one  was  too  dark  and  that  one  was  too 
fair.  So  there  was  never  a  white  sheep  in  the  whole  flock,  as  one  might 
say. 

,  Now  there  was  one  came  who  was  a  king  in  his  own  country,  and  a  fine 
one  at  that.  The  only  blemish  about  him  was  a  mole  on  his  chin ;  apart 
from  that  he  was  as  fresh  as  milk  and  rose  leaves. 

But  when  the  princess  saw  him  she  burst  out  laughing ;  "  Who  would 
choose  a  specked  apple  from  the  basket?"  said  she;  and  that  was  all  the 
cake  the  prince  bought  at  that  shop,  for  off  he  was  packed. 

But  he  was  not  for  giving  up,  not  he ;  he  went  and  dressed  himself  up 
in  rags  and  tatters ;  then  back  he  came  again,  and  not  a  soul  knew  him. 


270  HOW  THE   PRINCESS'S   PRIDE   WAS   BROKEN. 

Rap  !  tap  !  rap  ! — he  knocked  at  the  door,  and  did  they  want  a  stout 
lad  about  the  place? 

Well,  yes ;  they  were  wanting  a  gooseherd,  and  if  he  liked  the  place  he 
might  have  it. 

Oh,  that  fitted  his  wants  like  a  silk  stocking,  and  the  next  day  he  drove 
the  geese  up  on  the  hill  back  of  the  king's  house,  so  that  they  might  eat 
grass  where  it  was  fresh  and  green.  By  and  by  he  took  a  golden  ball  out 
of  his  pocket  and  began  tossing  it  up  and  catching  it,  and  as  he  played 
with  it  the  sun  shone  on  it  so  that  it  dazzled  one's  eyes  to  look  at  it. 

The  princess  sat  at  her  window,  and  it  was  not  long  before  she  saw  it, 
I  can  tell  you.  Dear,  dear,  but  it  was  a  pretty  one,  the  golden  ball.  The 
princess  would  like  to  have  such  a  plaything,  that  she  would ;  so  she  sent 
one  of  the  maids  out  to  ask  whether  the  gooseherd  had  a  mind  to  sell  it. 

Oh,  yes,  it  was  for  sale,  and  cheap  at  that ;  the  princess  should  have  it 
for  the  kerchief  which  she  wore  about  her  neck. 

Prut !  but  the  lad  was  a  saucy  one ;  that  was  what  the  princess  said. 
But,  after  all,  a  kerchief  was  only  a  kerchief ;  fetch  the  gooseherd  over  and 
she  would  give  it  to  him,  for  she  wanted  the  pretty  golden  ball  for  her  own, 
and  she  would  have  it  if  it  were  to  be  had. 

But,  no  ;  the  gooseherd  would  not  come  at  the  princess's  bidding.  If 
she  wanted  to  buy  the  golden  ball  she  must  come  up  on  the  hill  and  pay 
him,  for  he  was  not  going  to  leave  his  flock  of  geese,  and  have  them  wad- 
dling into  the  garden  perhaps ;  that  is  what  the  gooseherd  said.  So  the 
upshot  of  the  matter  was  that  the  princess  went  out  with  her  women,  and 
gave  the  lad  the  kerchief  up  on  the  hill  behind  the  hedge,  and  brought 
back  the  golden  ball  with  her  for  her  own. 

As  for  the  gooseherd  he  just  tied  the  kerchief  around  his  arm  so  that 
everybody  might  see  it ;  and  all  the  folks  said, "  Hi !  that  is  the  princess's 
kerchief." 

The  next  day,  when  he  drove  his  flock  of  geese  up  on  the  hill,  he  took 
a  silver  looking-glass  and  a  golden  comb  out  of  his  pocket  and  began  to 
comb  his  hair,  and  you  should  have  seen  how  the  one  and  the  other 
glistened  in  the  sun. 

It  took  the  princess  no  longer  to  see  the  comb  and  the  looking-glass 
than  it  had  the  golden  ball,  and  then  she  must  and  would  have  them. 
So  she  sent  one  to  find  whether  the  lad  was  of  a  mind  to  sell  them,  for 
she  thought  that  she  had  never  seen  anything  so  pretty  in  all  of  her  life 
before. 


tye  iftopal  goojsefyer 

toitl)tljegol&enball. 


272  HOW  THE   PRINCESS'S   PRIDE   WAS   BROKEN. 

"  Yes,"  said  he, "  I  will  sell  them,  but  the  princess  must  come  up  on  the 
hill  back  of  the  hedge  and  give  me  the  necklace  she  wears  about  her  neck." 

The  princess  made  a  sour  enough  face  at  this,  but,  as  the  gooseherd 
would  take  nothing  more  nor  less  than  what  he  had  said,  she  and  her 
maids  had  to  tuck  up  their  dresses  and  go  up  on  the  hill ;  there  she  paid 
him  his  price,  and  brought  home  the  silver  looking-glass  and  the  golden 
comb. 

The  lad  clasped  the  necklace  about  his  throat,  and,  dear,  dear,  how  all 
the  folks  did  goggle  and  stare.  "  See,"  said  they,  "  the  princess  has  been 
giving  the  gooseherd  the  necklace  from  about  her  own  throat." 

The  third  day  it  was  a  new  thing  the  gooseherd  had,  for  he  brought 
out  a  musical  box  with  figures  on  it,  dressed  up,  and  looking  for  all  the 
world  like  real  little  men  and  women.  He  turned  the  handle,  and  when 
the  music  played  it  was  sweeter  than  drops  of  honey.  And  all  the  while 
the  little  men  and  women  bowed  to  one  another  and  went  through  with 
a  dance,  for  all  the  world  as  though  they  knew  what  they  were  about,  and 
were  doing  it  with  their  own  wits. 

Good  gracious !  how  the  princess  did  wonder  at  the  pretty  musical  box ! 
She  must  and  would  have  it  at  any  price ;  but  this  time  it  was  five-and- 
twenty  kisses  that  the  lad  was  wanting  for  his  musical  box,  and  he  would 
take  nothing  more  nor  less  than  just  that  much  for  it.  Moreover,  she 
would  have  to  come  up  on  the  hillside  and  give  them  to  him,  for  he  could 
not  leave  his  geese  even  for  five-and-twenty  kisses. 

But  you  should  have  seen  what  a  stew  the  princess1  was  in  at  this! 
Five-and-twenty  kisses,  indeed !  And  did  the  fellow  think  that  it  was  for 
the  likes  of  her  to  be  kissing  a  poor  gooseherd  ?  He  might  keep  his 
musical  box  if  that  was  the  price  he  asked  for  it ;  that  was  what  she  said. 

As  for  the  lad,  he  just  played  the  music  and  played  the  music,  and  the 
more  the  princess  heard  and  saw  the  more  she  wanted  it.  "  After  all,"  said 
she,  at  last,  "  a  kiss  is  only  a  kiss,  and  I  will  be  none  the  poorer  for  giving 
one  or  two  of  them ;  I'll  just  let  him  have  them,  since  he  will  take  nothing 
else."  So  off  she  marched,  with  all  of  her  maidens,  to  pay  the  gooseherd 
his  price,  though  it  was  a  sour  face  she  made  of  it,  and  that  is  the  truth. 

Now,  somebody  had  been  buzzing  in  the  king's  ear,  and  had  told  him 
that  the  gooseherd  over  yonder  was  wearing  the  princess's  kerchief  and  her 
golden  necklace,  and  folks  said  she  had  given  them  to  him  of  her  own  free 
will. 

"What!"  says  the  king,  "is  that  so?  her  kerchief!   golden  necklace! 


tyefeingpeepjat 

an&iwejstoljatiagomgonupon 
Otljtr   ' 


18 


274 


HOW  THE   PRINCESS'S   PRIDE  WAS   BROKEN. 


we  will  have  to  look  into  this  business."  So  off  he  marched,  with  his  little 
dog  at  his  heels,  to  find  out  what  he  could  about  it.  Up  the  hill  he  went  to 
where  the  gooseherd  watched  his  flock ;  and  when  he  came  near  the  hedge 
where  the  kissing  was  going  on,  he  heard  them  counting — "  Twenty-one, 
twenty-two,  twenty-three — "  and  he  wondered  what  in  the  world  they  were 
all  about.  So  he  just  peeped  over  the  bushes,  and  there  he  saw  the  whole 
business. 

Mercy  on  us  !  what  a  rage  he  was  in !  So ;  the  princess  would  turn  up 
her  nose  at  folks  as  good  as  herself,  would  she?  And  here  she  was  kissing 
the  gooseherd  back  of  the  hedge.  If  he  was  the  kind  she  liked  she  should 
have  him  for  good  and  all. 

So  the  minister  was  called  in,  and  the  princess  and  the  gooseherd  were 
married  then  and  there,  and  that  was  the  end  of  the  business.  Then  off 
they  were  packed  to  shift  for  themselves  in  the  wide  world,  for  they  were 
not  to  live  at  the  king's  castle,  and  that  was  the  long  and  the  short  of  it. 

But  the  lad  did  nothing  but  grumble  and  growl,  and  seemed  as  sore  over 
his  bargain  as  though  he  had  been  trying  to  trick  a  -Jew.  What  did  he  want 
with  a  lass  for  a  wife  who  could  neither  brew  nor  bake  nor  boil  blue  beans  ? 
That  is  what  he  said.  All  the  same,  they  were  hitched  to  the  same  plough, 
and  there  was  nothing  for  it  but  to  pull  together  the  best  they  could.  So 
off  they  packed,  and  the  poor  princess  trudged  after  him  and  carried  his 
bundle. 

So  they  went  on  until  they  came  to  a  poor,  mean  little  hut.  There 
she  had  to  take  off  her  fine  clothes  and  put  on  rags  and  tatters ;  and  that 
was  the  way  she  came  home. 

"  Well,"  said  the  gooseherd  one  day,  "  it's  not  the  good  end  of  the 
bargain  that  I  have  had  in  marrying;  all  the  same,  one  must  make  the 
best  one  can  of  a  crooked  stick  when  there  is  none  other  to  be  cut  in 
the  hedge.  It  is  little  or  nothing  you  are  fit  for ;  but  here  is  a  basket  of 
eggs,  and  you  shall  take  them  to  the  market  and  sell  them." 

So  off  the  poor  princess  went  to  the  great  town,  and  stood  in  the  corner 
of  the  market  with  her  eggs.  By  and  by  there  came  along  a  tipsy 
countryman — tramp  !  tramp  !  tramp  !  As  for  the  basket  of  eggs,  he  minded 
them  no  more  than  so  many  green  apples.  Smash !  and  there  they  lay  on 
the  ground,  and  were  fit  for  nothing  but  to  patch  broken  promises,  as  we 
say  in  our  town. 

Then  how  the  poor  princess  did  wring  her  hands  and  cry  and  cry,  for 
she  was  afraid  to  go  home  to  her  husband,  because  of  the  hard  words  he 


J&*ince?0taktfi)  Ijereggpto  tyemarhck 


would  be  sure  to  fling  at  her.  All  the  same,  there  was  no  other  place  for 
her  to  go ;  so  back  she  went. 

"  There !"  said  he,  "  I  always  knew  that  you  were  good  for  nothing  but 
to  look  at,  and  now  I  am  more  sure  of  it  than  ever.  The  china  pitcher 
was  never  fit  to  send  to  the  well,  and  it  was  a  rainy  day  for  me  when  I 
married  such  a  left-handed  wife ;"  that  was  what  the  gooseherd  said.  All 
the  same,  the  princess  should  try  again ;  this  time  she  should  take  a  basket 
of  apples  to  the  market  to  sell ;  for  whatever  happened  she  could  not  break 
them  ;  so  off  she  went  again. 

Well,  by  and  by  came  a  fellow  driving  swine,  and  there  sat  the  princess 
in  the  way ;  that  was  bad  luck  for  her,  for  over  tumbled  the  basket,  and  the 


276  HOW   THE   PRINCESS'S   PRIDE   WAS   BROKEN. 

apples  went  rolling  all  about  the  street.  When  the  drove  had  passed  there 
was  not  a  single  apple  to  be  seen,  for  the  pigs  had  eaten  every  one  of 
them.  So  there  was  nothing  for  the  princess  but  to  go  home  crying,  with 
her  apron  to  her  eyes. 

"  Yes,  yes,"  said  the  gooseherd,  "  it  is  as  plain  as  reading  and  writing 
and  the  nose  on  your  face  that  you  are  just  fit  for  nothing  at  all !  All 
the  same,  we'll  make  one  more  try  to  mend  the  crack  in  your  luck.  The 
king  up  in  the  castle  yonder  is  married  and  is  going  to  give  a  grand  feast. 
They  are  wanting  a  body  in  the  kitchen  to  draw  the  water  and  chop  the 
wood ;  and  you  shall  go  and  try  your  hand  at  that ;  and  see,  here  is  a 
basket ;  you  shall  take  it  along  and  bring  home  the  kitchen  scrapings  for 
supper." 

So  off  went  the  princess  to  the  castle  kitchen,  and  there  she  drew  the 
water  and  chopped  the  wood  for  the  cook.  After  her  work  was  done  she 
begged  so  prettily  for  the  kitchen  scrapings  that  the  cook  filled  her  basket 
full  of  the  leavings  from  the  pots  and  the  pans,  for  they  were  about  having 
a  grand  dinner  up-stairs  and  the  king  was  going  -to  bring  home  his  wife 
that  day. 

By  and  by  it  was  time  for  her  to  be  going  home,  so  she  picked  up  her 
basket  and  off  she  went.  Just  outside  stood  two  tall  soldiers.  "  Halt !" 
said  they.  And  was  she  the  lass  who  had  been  chopping  the  wood  and 
drawing  the  water  for'the  cook  that  day?  Yes?  Then  she  must  go 
along  with  them,  for  she  was  wanted  up-stairs.  No ;  it  did  no  good  for 
her  to  beg  and  to  pray  and  to  cry  and  to  wring  her  hands,  and  it  mat- 
tered nothing  if  her  good  man  was  waiting  for  her  at  home.  She  had 
been  sent  for,  and  she  must  go,  willy-nilly.  So  she  had  only  just  time 
to  fling  her  apron  over  her  basket  of  kitchen  scrapings,  and  off  they 
marched  her. 

There  sat  the  king  on  his  golden  throne,  dressed  all  in  splendid  golden 
robes,  and  with  a  golden  crown  glittering  upon  his  head.  But  the  poor 
princess  was  so  frightened  that  she  neither  looked  at  anything  nor  saw 
anything,  but  only  stood  there  trembling. 

"  What  have  you  under  your  apron  ?"  said  the  king.  But  to  this  the 
princess  could  not  answer  a  single  word.  Then  somebody  who  stood  near 
snatched  away  her  apron,  and  there  was  the  basket  full  of  kitchen  scrapings, 
and  all  the  time  the  princess  stood  so  heart-struck  with  shame  that  she 
saw  nothing  but  the  cracks  in  the  floor. 

But  the  king  stepped  down  from  his  golden  throne,  dressed  all  in  his 


golden  robes,  just  as  he  was,  and  took  the  princess  by  the  hand.  "  And 
do  you  not  know  me?"  said  he;  "look!  I  am  the  gooseherd." 

And  so  he  was  !  She  could  see  it  easily  enough  now,  but  that  made  her 
more  ashamed  than  ever. 

And  listen :  the  king  had  more  to  tell  her  yet.  He  was  the  tipsy  coun- 
tryman and  had  knocked  over  her  basket  of  eggs  himself,  and  more  than 
that  he  was  the  swineherd  who  had  driven  his  pigs  over  her  basket  of 
apples  so  that  they  were  spilled  on  the  ground.  But  the  princess  only 
bowed  her  head  lower  and  lower,  for  her  pride  was  broken. 

"  Come,"  says  the  king,  "  you  are  my  own  sweetheart  now ;"  and  he 
kissed  her  on  the  cheek  and  seated  her  beside  himself,  and  if  the  princess 


/ 

278  HOW  THE   PRINCESS'S   PRIDE  WAS   BROKEN. 

cried  any  more  the  king  wiped  away  her  tears  with  his  own  pocket-hand- 
kerchief. As  for  the  poor  and  rough  clothes  in  which  she  was  dressed,  he 
thought  nothing  of  them,  for  they  were  nothing  to  him. 

That  is  the  end  of  this  story,  for  everything  ends  aright  in  a  story  worth 
the  telling. 

But  if  the  princess  was  proud  and  haughty  before,  she  never  was  again  ; 
and  that  is  the  plain  truth,  fresh  from  the  churn  and  no  hairs  in  it,  and  a 
lump  of  it  is  worth  spreading  your  bread  with,  I  can  tell  you. 


|llt  of  the  Cupboard        ^ 

ld  takes 
Some  bits  of  &&  Morning 

Griddle -Cakes  . 


The  Windows  rattle, 


But  the  Ashes  are  warm 
Between  his  foes. 


The  little  grey  Mouse 
Looks  out  of  the  Wall, 

And  wishes  he  had 
The  Crumbs  that  fall . 


went 

Partnership 


XXII. 


HIS  was  the  way  of  it. 

Uncle  Bear  had  a  pot  of  honey  and  a  big  cheese, 
but  the  Great  Red  Fox  had  nothing  but  his  wits. 

The  fox  was  for  going  into  partnership,  for  he 
says,  says  he,  "  a  head  full  of  wits  is  worth  more  than 
a  pot  of  honey  and  a  big  cheese,"  which  was  as  true 
as  gospel,  only  that  wits  cannot  be  shared  in  part- 
nership among  folks,  like  red  herring  and  blue  beans, 
or  a  pot  of  honey  and  a  big  cheese. 

All  the  same,  Uncle  Bear  was  well  enough  satisfied,  and  so  they  went 
into  partnership  together,  just  as  the  Great  Red  Fox  had  said.  As  for 
the  pot  of  honey  and  the  big  cheese,  why,  they  were  put  away  for  a 
rainy  day,  and  the  wits  were  all  that  were  to  be  used  just  now. 

"  Very  well,"  says  the  fox,  "  we'll  rattle  them  up  a  bit ;"  and  so  he  did, 
and  this  was  how. 

He  was  hungry  for  the  honey,  was  the  Great  Red  Fox.  "  See,  now," 
said  he,  "  I  am  sick  to-day,  and  I  will  just  go  and  see  the  Master  Doctor 
over  yonder." 

But  it  was  not  the  doctor  he  went  to ;  no,  off  he  marched  to  the  store- 
house, and  there  he  ate  part  of  the  honey.     After  that  he  laid  out  in  the 
sun  and  toasted  his  skin,  for  that  is  pleasant  after  a  great  dinner. 
By  and  by  he  went  home  again. 


282  HOW   TWO   WENT   INTO   PARTNERSHIP. 

"  Well,"  says  Uncle  Bear,  "and  how  do  you  feel  now?" 

"  Oh,  well  enough,"  says  the  Great  Red  Fox. 

"And  was  the  medicine  bitter?"  says  Uncle  Bear. 

"  Oh,  no,  it  was  good  enough,"  says  the  Great  Red  Fox. 

"  And  how  much  did  the  doctor  give  you  ?"  says  Uncle  Bear. 

"  Oh,  about  one  part  of  a  pot  full,"  says  the  Red  Fox. 

Dear,  dear !  thinks  Uncle  Bear,  that  is  a  great  deal  of  medicine  to  take, 
for  sure  and  certain. 

Well,  things  went  on  as  smoothly  as  though  the  wheels  were  greased, 
until  by  and  by  the  fox  grew  hungry  for  a  taste  of  honey  again ;  and  this 
time  he  had  to  go  over  yonder  and  see  his  aunt.  Off  he  went  to  the 
storehouse,  and  there  he  ate  all  the  honey  he  wanted,  and  then,  after  he 
had  slept  a  bit  in  the  sun,  he  went  back  home  again. 

"  Well,"  says  Uncle  Bear,  "  and  did  you  see  your  aunt  ?" 

"  Oh,  yes,"  says  the  Great  Red  Fox,  "  I  saw  her." 

"And  did  she  give  you  anything?"  says  Uncle  Bear. 

"  Oh,  yes,  she  gave  me  a  trifle,"  says  the  Great  JRed  Fox. 

"  And  what  was  it  she  gave  you  ?"  says  Uncle  Bear. 

"  Why,  she  gave  me  another  part  of  a  pot  full,  that  was  all,"  says  the 
Great  Red  Fox. 

"  Dear,  dear !  but  that  is  a  queer  thing  to  give,"  says  Uncle  Bear. 

By  and  by  the  Great  Red  Fox  was  thinking  of  honey  again,  and  now 
it  was  a  christening  he  had  to  go  to.  Off  he  went  to  the  pot  of  honey, 
and  this  time  he  finished  it  all  and  licked  the  pot  into  the  bargain. 

And  had  everything  gone  smoothly  at  the  christening?  That  was 
what  Uncle  Bear  wanted  to  know. 

"  Oh,  smoothly  enough,"  says  the  Great  Red  Fox. 

"  And  did  they  have  a  christening  feast  ?"  says  Uncle  Bear. 

"  Oh,  yes,  they  had  that,"  says  the  Great  Red  Fox. 

"  And  what  did  they  have  ?"  says  Uncle  Bear. 

"  Oh,  everything  that  was  in  the  pot,"  says  the  Great  Red  Fox. 

"  Dear,  dear,"  says  Uncle  Bear,  "  but  they  must  have  been  a  hungry 
set  at  that  christening." 

Well,  one  day  Uncle  Bear  says,  "  We'll  have  a  feast  and  eat  up  the 
pot  of  honey  and  the  big  cheese,  and  we'll  ask  Father  Goat  over  to 
help  us." 

That  suited  the  Great  Red  Fox  well  enough,  so  off  he  went  to  the 
storehouse  to  fetch  the  pot  of  honey  and  the  cheese ;  as  for  Uncle  Bear 


284  HOW  TWO   WENT  INTO   PARTNERSHIP. 

he  went  to  ask  Father  Goat  to  come  and  help  them  eat  up  the  good 
things. 

"  See,  now,"  says  the  Great  Red  Fox  to  himself,  "  the  pot  of  honey 
and  the  big  cheese  belong  together,  and  it  is  a  pity  to  part  them."  So 
down  he  sat  without  more  ado,  and  when  he  got  up  again  the  cheese  was 
all  inside  of  him. 

When  he  came  home  again  there  was  Father  Goat  toasting  his  toes  at 
the  fire  and  waiting  for  supper ;  and  there  was  Uncle  Bear  on  the  back 
door-step  sharpening  the  bread-knife. 

"  Hi !"  says  the  Great  Red  Fox,  "  and  what  are  you  doing  here,  Father 
Goat?" 

"  I  am  just  waiting  for  supper,  and  that  is  all,"  says  Father  Goat. 

"And  where  is  Uncle  Bear?"  says  the  Great  Red  Fox. 

"  He  is  sharpening  the  bread-knife,"  says  Father  Goat. 

"  Yes,"  says  the  Great  Red  Fox,  "  and  when  he  is  through  with  that 
he  is  going  to  cut  your  tail  off." 

Dear,  dear !  but  Father  Goat  was  in  a  great  fright ;  that  house  was  no 
place  for  him,  and  he  could  see  that  with  one  eye  shut ;  off  he  marched, 
as  though  the  ground  was  hot  under  him.  As  for  the  Great  Red  Fox,  he 
went  out  to  Uncle  Bear ;  "  That  was  a  pretty  body  you  asked  to  take 
supper  with  us,"  says  he ;  "  here  he  has  marched  off  with  the  pot  of  honey 
and  the  big  cheese,  and  we  may  sit  down  and  whistle  over  an  empty  table 
between  us." 

When  Uncle  Bear  heard  this  he  did  not  tarry,  I  can  tell  you ;  up  he  got 
and  9ff  he  went  after  Father  Goat.  "  Stop  !  stop  !"  he  bawled,  "  let  me 
have  a  little  at  least." 

But  Father  Goat  thought  that  Uncle  Bear  was  speaking  of  his  tail, 
for  he  knew  nothing  of  the  pot  of  honey  and  the  big  cheese  ;  so  he 
just  knuckled  down  to  it,  and  away  he  scampered  till  the  gravel  flew 
behind  him. 

And  this  was  what  came  of  that  partnership ;  nothing  was  left  but  the 
wits  that  the  Great  Red  Fox  had  brought  into  the  business;  for  nobody 
could  blame  Father  Goat  for  carrying  the  wits  off  with  him,  and  one  might 
guess  that  without  the  telling. 

Now,  as  the  pot  of  honey  and  big  cheese  were  gone,  something  else 
must  be  looked  up,  for  one  cannot  live  on  thin  air,  and  that  is  the  truth. 

"See,  now,"  says  the  Great  Red  Fox,  "  Farmer  John  over  yonder  has 
a  storehouse  full  of  sausages  and  chitterlings  and  puddings,  and  all  sort 


fox  tell*  jFatyer  (S  oat  a  strange  jstorp. 


of  good  things.  As  nothing  else  is  left  of  the  partnership  we'll  just 
chum  our  wits  a  bit,  and  see  if  we  can  make  butter  with  them,  as  the 
saying  goes ;"  that  was  what  the  Great  Red  Fox  said,  and  it  suited 
Uncle  Bear  as  well  as  anything  he  ever  heard ;  so  off  they  marched  arm 
in  arm. 

By  and  by  they  came  to  Farmer  John's  house,  and  nobody  was  about, 
which  was  just  what  the  two  rogues  wanted  ;  and,  yes,  there  was  the 
storehouse  as  plain  as  the  nose  on  your  face,  only  the  door  was  locked. 
Above  was  a  little  window  just  big  enough  for  the  Great  Red  Fox  to 


286  HOW   TWO   WENT   INTO    PARTNERSHIP. 

creep  into,  though  it  was  up  ever  so  high.  "  Just  give  me  a  lift  up  through 
the  window  yonder,"  says  he  to  Uncle  Bear,  "  and  I  will  drop  the  good 
things  out  for  you  to  catch." 

So  Uncle  Bear  gave  the  Great  Red  Fox  a  leg  up,  and — pop ! — and  there 
he  was  in  the  storehouse  like  a  mouse  in  the  cheese-box. 

As  soon  as  he  was  safe  among  the  good  things  he  bawled  out  to  Uncle 
Bear, "  What  shall  it  be  first,  sausages  or  puddings?" 

"  Hush  !  hush  !"  said  Uncle  Bear. 

"  Yes,  yes,"  bawled  the  Red  Fox  louder  than  ever, "  only  tell  me  which 
I  shall  take  first,  sausages  or  puddings  ?" 

"  Sh-h-h-h  !"  said  Uncle  Bear,  "  if  you  are  making  such  a  noise  as  that 
you  will  have  them  about  our  ears ;  take  the  first  that  comes  and  be  quick 
about  it." 

"  Yes,  yes,"  bawled  the  fox  as  loud  as  he  was  able ;  "  but  one  is  just  as 
handy  as  another,  and  you  must  tell  me  which  I  shall  take  first." 

But  Uncle  Bear  got  neither  pudding  nor  sausage,  for  the  Great  Red  Fox 
had  made  such  a  hubbub  that  Farmer  John  and  .his  men  came  running, 
and  three  great  dogs  with  them. 

"  Hi !"  said  they, "  there  is  Uncle  Bear  after  the  sausages  and  puddings ;" 
and  there  was  nothing  for  him  to  do  but  to  lay  foot  to  the  ground  as  fast 
as  he  could.  All  the  same,  they  caught  him  over  the  hill,  and  gave  him 
such  a  drubbing  that  his  bones  ached  for  many  a  long  day. 

But  the  Great  Red  Fox  only  waited  until  all  the  others  were  well  away 
on  their  own  business,  and  then  he  filled  a  bag  with  the  best  he  could  lay 
his  hands  on,  opened  the  door  from  the  inside,  and  walked  out  as  though 
it  were  from  his  own  barn ;  for  there  was  nobody  to  say  "  No  "  to  him. 
He  hid  the  good  things  away  in  a  place  of  his  own,  and  it  was  little  of  them 
that  Uncle  Bear  smelt.  After  he  had  gathered  all  this,  Master  Fox  came 
home,  groaning  as  though  he  had  had  an  awful  drubbing ;  it  would  have 
moved  a  heart  of  stone  to  hear  him. 

"  Dear,  oh  dear !  what  a  drubbing  I  have  had,"  said  he. 

"And  so  have  I,"  said  Uncle  Bear,  grinning  over  his  sore  bones  as 
though  cold  weather  were  blowing  snow  in  his  teeth. 

"  See,  now,"  said  the  Great  Red  Fox,  "  this  is  what  comes  of  going  into 
partnership,  and  sharing  one's  wits  with  another.  If  you  had  made  your 
choice  when  I  asked  you,  your  butter  would  never  have  been  spoiled  in 
the  churning." 

That  was  all  the  comfort  Uncle  Bear  had,  and  cold  enough  it  was  too. 


ndc  Bear  and  t^e  d3reat 

Bed  fox  bfeit  tlje  farmer's  $  tojc-- 


288  HOW  TWO  WENT   INTO   PARTNERSHIP. 

All  the  same,  he  is  not  the  first  in  the  world  who  has  lost  his  dinner,  and 
had  both  the  drubbing  and  the  blame  into  the  bargain. 

But  things  do  not  last  forever,  and  so  by  and  by  the  good  things  from 
Farmer  John's  storehouse  gave  out,  and  the  Great  Red  Fox  had  nothing 
in  the  larder. 

"  Listen,"  says  he  to  Uncle  Bear,  "  I  saw  them  shaking  the  apple-trees 
at  Farmer  John's  to-day,  and  if  you  have  a  mind  to  try  the  wits  that  belong 
to  us,  we'll  go  and  bring  a  bagful  apiece  from  the  storehouse  over  yonder 
at  the  farm." 

Yes,  that  suited  Uncle  Bear  well  enough ;  so  off  they  marched,  each  of 
them  with  an  empty  bag  to  fetch  back  the  apples.  By  and  by  they  came  to 
the  storehouse,  and  nobody  was  about.  This  time  the  door  was  not  locked, 
so  in  the  both  of  them  went  and  began  filling  their  bags  with  apples.  The 
Great  Red  Fox  tumbled  them  into  his  bag  as  fast  as  ever  he  could,  taking 
them  just  as  they  came,  good  or  bad ;  but  Uncle  Bear  took  his  time  about 
it  and  picked  them  all  over,  for  since  he  had  come  there  he  was  bound  to 
get  the  best  that  were  to  be  had. 

So  the  upshot  of  the  matter  was  that  the  Great  Red  Fox  had  his 
bag  full  before  Uncle  Bear  had  picked  out  half  a  score  of  good  juicy 
apples. 

"  I'll  just  peep  out  of  the  window  yonder,"  says  the  Great  Red  Fox, 
"and  see  if  Farmer  John  is  coming."  But  in  his  sleeve  he  said  to  himself, 
"  I'll  slip  outside  and  turn  the  key  of  the  door  on  Uncle  Bear,  for  somebody 
will  have  to  carry  the  blame  of  this,  and  his  shoulders  are  broader  and  his 
skin  tougher  than  mine ;  he  will  never  be  able  to  get  out  of  that  little 
window."  So  up  he  jumped  with  his  bag  of  apples,  to  do  as  he  said. 

But  listen !  A  hasty  man  drinks  hot  broth.  And  so  it  was  with  the 
Great  Red  Fox,  for  up  in  the  window  they  had  set  a  trap  to  catch  rats. 
But  he  knew  nothing  of  that;  out  he  jumped  from  the  window  —  click! 
went  the  trap  and  caught  him  by  the  tail,  and  there  he  hung. 

"  Is  Farmer  John  coming?"  bawled  Uncle  Bear,  by  and  by. 

"  Hush !  hush !"  said  the  Great  Red  Fox,  for  he  was  trying  to  get  his  tail 
out  of  the  trap. 

But  the  boot  was  on  the  other  leg  now.  "  Yes,  yes,"  bawled  Uncle  Bear, 
louder  than  before,  "but  tell  me,  is  Farmer  John  coming?" 

u  Sh-h-h-h  !"  says  the  Great  Red  Fox. 

"  No,  no,"  bawled  Uncle  Bear,  as  loud  as  he  could,  "  what  I  want  to 
know  is,  is  Farmer  John  coming?" 


to  farmerjjotjn'*  again. 


Yes,  he  was,  for  he  had  heard  the  hubbub,  and  here  he  was  with  a  lot  of 
his  men  and  three  great  dogs. 

"  Oh,  Farmer  John,"  bawled  the  Great  Red  Fox,  "  don't  touch  me ,  1 
am  not  the  thief.  Yonder  is  Uncle  Bear  in  the  pantry,  he  is  the  one." 

Yes,  yes,  Farmer  John  knew  how  much  of  that  cake  to  eat ;  here  was 
the  rogue  of  a  fox  caught  in  the  trap,  and  the  beating  was  ready  for  him. 
That  was  the  long  and  the  short  of  it. 

When  the  Great  Red  Fox  heard  this,  he  pulled  with  all  his  might  and 
main.  Snap !  went  his  tail  and  broke  off  close  to  his  body,  and  away  he 
19 


290  HOW  TWO   WENT   INTO   PARTNERSHIP. 

scampered  with  Farmer  John  the  men  and  the  dogs  close  to  his  heels.  But 
Uncle  Bear  filled  his  bag  full  of  apples,  and  when  all  hands  had  gone 
racing  away  after  the  Great  Red  Fox,  he  walked  quietly  out  of  the  door 
and  off  home. 

And  that  is  how  the  Great  Red  Fox  lost  his  tail  in  the  trap. 

What  is  the  meaning  of  all  this  ?  Why,  here  it  is :  When  a  rogue  and 
another  cracks  a  nut  together,  it  is  not  often  the  rogue  who  breaks  his  teeth 
by  trying  to  eat  the  hulls.  And  this  too :  But  when  one  sets  a  trap  for 
another,  it  is  a  toss  of  a  copper  whether  or  no  it  flies  up  and  pinches  his  own 
fingers. 

If  there  is  anything  more  left  in  the  dish  you  may  scrape  it  for  yourself. 


Eleven  O'clock  • 


ho  goes  about  the  House  when  all 

Are  sleeping  but  the  Clock , 
And  no  one  hears  it ,  all  alone ,      3 
9n      Still  saying  tick-a-tock? 

K.P. 

It  is  not  Gretchen  goes  about,        j~ 
She's  snoring  in  \&iBed\  ® 

It's  not  the//0#/7*/that  goes  about 
A      He  never  lifts  his/AW ; 

tr 

It  is  the  Wind  that  goes  about, 
And  sighs  around  the  House, 

And  never  wakes  the  toothless  Hound, 
Or  sto 


XXIII. 


HERE  was  a  drummer  marching  along  the  high-road 
— forward  march  ! — left,  right ! — tramp,  tramp,  tramp ! 
— for  the  fighting  was  done,  and  he  was  coming  home 
from  the  wars.  By  and  by  he  came  to  a  great  wide 
stream  of  water,  and  there  sat  an  old  man  as  gnarled 
and  as  bent  as  the  hoops  in  a  cooper  shop.  "Are 
you  going  to  cross  the  water  ?"  said  he. 

"  Yes,"  says  the  drummer,  "  I  am  going  to  do  that 
if  my  legs  hold  out  to  carry  me." 

"  And  will  you  not  help  a  poor  body  across  ?"  says  the  old  man. 
Now,  the  drummer  was  as  good-natured  a  lad  as  ever  stood  on  two  legs. 
"  If  the  young  never  gave  a  lift  to  the  old,"  says  he  to  himself,  "  the  wide 
world  would  not  be  worth  while  living  in."  So  he  took  off  his  shoes  and 
stockings,  and  then  he  bent  his  back  and  took  the  old  man  on  it,  and  away 
he  started  through  the  water — splash  ! 

But  this  was  no  common  old  man  whom  the  drummer  was  carrying,  and 
he  was  not  long  finding  that  out,  for  the  farther  he  went  in  the  water  the 
heavier  grew  his  load — like  work  put  off  until  to-morrow — so  that,  when  he 
was  half-way  across,  his  legs  shook  under  him  and  the  sweat  stood  on  his 
forehead  like  a  string  of  beads  in  the  shop-window.  But  by  and  by  he 
reached  the  other  shore,  and  the  old  man  jumped  down  from  his  back. 
"  Phew !"  says  the  drummer,  "  I  am  glad  to  be  here  at  last !" 


294 


KING  STORK. 


And  now  for  the  wonder  of  all  this:  The  old  man  was  an  old  man  no 
longer,  but  a  splendid  tall  fellow  with  hair  as  yellow  as  gold.  "  And  who  do 
you  think  I  am  ?"  said  he. 

But  of  that  the  drummer  knew  no  more  than  the  mouse  in  the  haystack, 
so  he  shook  his  head,  and  said  nothing. 

"  I  am  king  of  the  storks,  and  here  I  have  sat  for  many  days ;  for  the 
wicked  one-eyed  witch  who  lives  on  the  glass  hill  put  it  upon  me  for  a  spell 
that  I  should  be  an  old  man  until  somebody  should  carry  me  over  the 
water.  You  are  the  first  to  do  that,  and  you  shall  not  lose  by  it.  Here  is  a 
little  bone  whistle ;  whenever  you  are  in  trouble  just  blow  a  turn  or  two  on 
it,  and  I  will  be  by  to  help  you." 

Thereupon  King  Stork  drew  a  feather  cap  out  of  his  pocket  and  clapped 
it  on  his  head,  and  away  he  flew,  for  he  was  turned  into  a  great,  long,  red- 
legged  stork  as  quick  as  a  wink. 

But  the  drummer  trudged  on  the  way  he  was  going,  as  merry  as  a 
cricket,  for  it  is  not  everybody  who  cracks  his  shins  against  such  luck  as  he 
had  stumbled  over,  I  can  tell  you.  By  and  by  he  came  to  .the  town  over 
the  hill,  and  there  he  found  great  bills  stuck  up  over  the  walls.  They  were 
all  of  them  proclamations.  And  this  is  what  they  said  : 

The  princess  of  that  town  was  as  clever  as  she  was  pretty ;  that  was  say- 
ing a  great  deal,  for  she  was  the  handsomest  in  the  whole  world.  ("  Phew ! 
but  that  is  a  fine  lass  for  sure  and  certain,"  said  the  drummer.)  So  it  was 
proclaimed  that  any  lad  who  could  answer  a  question  the  princess  would 
ask,  and  would  ask  a  question  the  princess  could  not  answer,  and  would 
catch  the  bird  that  she  would  be  wanting,  should  have  her  for  his  wife  and 
half  of  the  kingdom  to  boot.  ("  Hi !  but  here  is  luck  for  a  clever  lad,"  says 
the  drummer.)  But  whoever  should  fail  in  any  one  of  the  three  tasks 
should  have  his  head  chopped  off  as  sure  as  he  lived.  ("  Ho !  but  she  is  a 
widced  one  for  all  that,"  says  the  drummer.) 

That  was  what  the  proclamation  said,  and  the  drummer  would  have  a 
try  for  her ;  "  for,"  said  he,  "  it  is  a  poor  fellow  who  cannot  manage  a  wife 
when  he  has  her" — and  he  knew  as  much  about  that  business  as  a  goose 
about  churning  butter.  As  for  chopping  off  heads,  he  never  bothered  his 
own  about  that ;  for,  if  one  never  goes  out  for  fear  of  rain  one  never  catches 
fish. 

Off  he  went  to  the  king's  castle  as  fast  as  he  could  step,  and  there  he 
knocked  on  the  door,  as  bold  as  though  his  own  grandmother  lived  there. 

But  when  the  king  heard  what  the  drummer  had  come  for,  he  took  out 


\)t  JB  rummer  carrfejstlje  ©to 

25  o&p  acrossjs  tijc  fttoer . 


296  KING  STORK. 

his  pocket-handkerchief  and  began  to  wipe  his  eyes,  for  he  had  a  soft  heart 
under  his  jacket,  and  it  made  him  cry  like  anything  to  see  another  coming 
to  have  his  head  chopped  off,  as  so  many  had  done  before  him.  For  there 
they  were,  all  along  the  wall  in  front  of  the  princess's  window,  like  so  many 
apples. 

But  the  drummer  was  not  to  be  scared  away  by  the  king's  crying  a  bit, 
so  in  he  came,  and  by  and  by  they  all  sat  down  to  supper — he  and  the  king 
and  the  princess.  As  for  the  princess,  she  was  so  pretty  that  the  drummer's 
heart  melted  inside  of  him,  like  a  lump  of  butter  on  the  stove — and  that 
was  what  she  was  after.  After  a  while  she  asked  him  if  he  had  come  to 
answer  a  question  of  hers,  and  to  ask  her  a  question  of  his,  and  to  catch  the 
bird  that  she  should  set  him  to  catch. 

"  Yes,"  said  the  drummer,  "  I  have  come  to  do  that  very  thing."  And 
he  spoke  as  boldly  and  as  loudly  as  the  clerk  in  church. 

"Very  well,  then,"  says  the  princess,  as  sweet  as  sugar  candy,  "just 
come  along  to-morrow,  and  I  will  ask  you  your  question." 

Off  went  the  drummer  ;  he  put  his  whistle  to  his  lips  and  blew  a  turn  or 
two,  and  there  stood  King  Stork,  and  nobody  knows  where  he  stepped  from. 

"  And  what  do  you  want  ?"  says  he. 

The  drummer  told  him  everything,  and  how  the  princess  was  going  to 
ask  him  a  question  to-morrow  morning  that  he  would  have  to  answer,  or 
have  his  head  chopped  off. 

"  Here  you  have  walked  into  a  pretty  puddle,  and  with  your  eyes  open," 
says  King  Stork,  for  he  knew  that  the  princess  was  a  wicked  enchantress, 
and  loved  nothing  so  much  as  to  get  a  lad  into  just  such  a  scrape  as  the 
drummer  had  tumbled  into.  "  But  see,  here  is  a  little  cap  and  a  long  feather 
— the  cap  is  a  dark-cap,  and  when  you  put  it  on  your  head  one  can  see  you 
no  more  than  so  much  thin  air.  At  twelve  o'clock  at  night  the  princess 
will  come  out  into  the  castle  garden  and  will  fly  away  through  the  air. 
Then  throw  your  leg  over  the  feather,  and  it  will  carry  you  wherever  you 
want  to  go ;  and  if  the  princess  flies  fast  it  will  carry  you  as  fast  and  faster.'' 

"Dong!  Dong!"  The  clock  struck  twelve,  and  the  princess  came  out 
of  her  house ;  but  in  the  garden  was  the  drummer  waiting  for  her  with  the 
dark-cap  on  his  head,  and  he  saw  her  as  plain  as  a  pikestaff.  She  brought  a 
pair  of  great  wings  which  she  fastened  to  her  shoulders,  arid  away  she  flew. 
But  the  drummer  was  as  quick  with  his  tricks  as  she  was  with  hers ;  he 
flung  his  leg  over  the  feather  which  King  Stork  had  given  him,  and  away  he 
flew  after  her,  and  just  as  fast  as  she  with  her  great  wings. 


298  KING  STORK. 

By  and  by  they  came  to  a  huge  castle  of  shining  steel  that  stood  on  a 
mountain  of  glass.  And  it  was  a  good  thing  for  the  drummer  that  he  had 
on  his  cap  of  darkness,  for  all  around  outside  of  the  castle  stood  fiery 
dragons  and  savage  lions  to  keep  anybody  from  going  in  without  leave. 

But  not  a  thread  of  the  drummer  did  they  see ;  in  he  walked  with  the 
princess,  and  there  was  a  great  one-eyed  witch  with  a  beard  on  her  chin, 
and  a  nose  that  hooked  over  her  mouth  like  the  beak  of  a  parrot. 

"  Uff !"  said  she,  "  here  is  a  smell  of  Christian  blood  in  the  house." 

"  Tut,  mother !"  says  the  princess,  "  how  you  talk !  do  you  not  see  that 
there  is  nobody  with  me  ?"  For  the  drummer  had  taken  care  that  the  wind 
should  not  blow  the  cap  of  darkness  off  of  his  head,  I  can  tell  you.  By  and 
by  they  sat  down  to  supper,  the  princess  and  the  witch,  but  it  was  little 
the  princess  ate,  for  as  fast  as  anything  was  put  on  her  plate  the  drummer 
helped  himself  to  it,  so  that  it  was  all  gone  before  she  could  get  a  bite. 

"  Look,  mother !"  she  said,  "  I  eat  nothing,  and  yet  it  all  goes  from  my 
plate;  why  is  that  so?"  But  that  the  old  witch  could  not  tell  her,  for  she 
could  see  nothing  of  the  drummer. 

"  There  was  a  lad  came  to-day  to  answer  the  question  I  shall  put  to 
him,"  said  the  princess.  "  Now  what  shall  I  ask  him  by  way  of  a 
question  ?" 

"  I  have  a  tooth  in  the  back  part  of  my  head,"  said  the  witch,  "  and  it 
has  been  grumbling  a  bit ;  ask  him  what  it  is  you  are  thinking  about,  and 
let  it  be  that." 

Yes  ;  that  was  a  good  question  for  sure  and  certain,  and  the  princess 
would  give  it  to  the  drummer  to-morrow,  to  see  what  he  had  to  say  for 
himself.  As  for  the  drummer,  you  can  guess  how  he  grinned,  for  he  heard 
every  word  that  they  said. 

After  a  while  the  princess  flew  away  home  again,  for  it  was  nearly  the 
break  of  day,  and  she  must  be  back  before  the  sun  rose.  And  the 
drummer  flew  close  behind  her,  but  she  knew  nothing  of  that. 

The  next  morning  up  he  marched  to  the  king's  castle  and  knocked  at 
the  door,  and  they  let  him  in. 

There  sat  the  king  and  the  princess,  and  lots  of  folks  besides.  Well, 
had  he  come  to  answer  her  question  ?  That  was  what  the  princess  wanted 
to  know. 

Yes ;  that  was  the  very  business  he  had  come  about. 

Very  well,  this  was  the  question,  and  he  might  have  three  guesses  at 
it ;  what  was  she  thinking  of  at  that  minute  ? 


drummer  fydp<g  fjimgelf 

to%  goofc  things,  tfyougty  noone  can 
:  »te  ijim . 


300  KING  STORK. 

Oh,  it  could  be  no  hard  thing  to  answer  such  a  question  as  that,  for 
lasses'  heads  all  ran  upon  the  same  things  more  or  less ;  was  it  a  fine  silk 
dress  with  glass  buttons  down  the  front  that  she  was  thinking  of  now  ? 

No,  it  was  not  that. 

Then,  was  it  of  a  good  stout  lad  like  himself  for  a  sweetheart,  that  she 
was  thinking  of  ? 

No,  it  was  not  that. 

No  ?  Then  it  was  the  bad  tooth  that  had  been  grumbling  in  the  head 
of  the  one-eyed  witch  for  a  day  or  two  past,  perhaps. 

Dear,  dear !  but  you  should  have  seen  the  princess's  face  when  she 
heard  this !  Up  she  got  and  off?- she  packed  without  a  single  word,  and 
the  king  saw  without  the  help  of  his  spectacles  that  the  drummer  had 
guessed  right.  He  was  so  glad  that  he  jumped  up  and  down  and  snapped 
his  fingers  for  joy.  Besides  that  he  gave  out  that  bonfires  should  be  lighted 
all  over  the  town,  and  that  was  a  fine  thing  for  the  little  boys. 

The  next  night  the  princess  flew  away  to  the  house  of  the  one-eyed 
witch  again,  but  there  was.  the  drummer  close  behind  her  just  as  he  had 
been  before. 

"  Uflf !"  said  the  one-eyed  witch, "  here  is  a  smell  of  Christian  blood,  for 
sure  and  certain."  But  all  the  same,  she  saw  no  more  of  the  drummer 
than  if  he  had  never  been  born. 

"  See,  mother,"  said  the  princess,  "  that  rogue  of  a  drummer  answered 
my  question  without  winking  over  it." 

"  So,"  said  the  old  witch, "  we  have  missed  for  once,  but  the  second 
time  hits  the  mark;  he  will  be  asking  you  a  question  to-morrow,  and 
here  is  a  book  that  tells  everything  that  has  happened  in  the  world,  and 
if  he  asks  you  more  than  that  he  is  a  smart  one  and  no  mistake." 

After  that  they  sat  down  to  supper  again,  but  it  was  little  the  princess 
ate,  for  the  drummer  helped  himself  out  of  her  plate  just  as  he  had  done 
before. 

After  a  while  the  princess  flew  away  home,  and  the  drummer  with  her. 

"  And,  now,  what  will  we  ask  her  that  she  cannot  answer  ?"  said  the 
drummer ;  so  off  he  went  back  of  the  house,  and  blew  a  turn  or  two  on 
his  whistle,  and  there  stood  King  Stork. 

"  And  what  will  we  ask  the  princess,"  said  he, "  when  she  has  a  book 
that  tells  her  everything?" 

King  Stork  was  not  long  in  telling  him  that ;  "  Just  ask  her  so  and  so 
and  so  and  so,"  said  he,  "  and  she  would  not  dare  to  answer  the  question." 


KING  STORK.  301 

Well,  the  next  morning  there  was  the  drummer  at  the  castle  all  in 
good  time  ;  and,  had  he  come  to  ask  her  a  question  ?  that  was  what  the 
princess  wanted  to  know. 

Oh,  yes,  he  had  come  for  that  very  thing. 

Very  well,  then,  just  let  him  begin,  for  the  princess  was  ready  and 
waiting,  and  she  wet  her  thumb,  and  began  to  turn  over  the  leaves  of 
her  Book  of  Knowledge. 

Oh,  it  was  an  easy  question  the  drummer  was  going  to  ask,  and  it 
needed  no  big  book  like  that  to  answer  it.  The  other  night  he  dreamed 
that  he  was  in  a  castle  all  built  of  shining  steel,  where  there  lived  a  witch 
with  one  eye.  There  was  a  handsome  bit  of  a  lass  there  who  was  as 
great  a  witch  as  the  old  woman  herself,  but  for  the  life  of  him  he  could 
not  tell  who  she  was ;  now  perhaps  the  princess  could  make  a  guess  at  it. 

There  the  drummer  had  her  as  tight  as  a  fly  in  a  bottle,  for  she  did 
not  dare  to  let  folks  know  that  she  was  a  wicked  witch  like  the  one-eyed 
one ;  so  all  she  could  do  was  to  sit  there  and  gnaw  her  lip.  As  for  the 
Book  of  Knowledge,  it  was  no  more  use  to  her  than  a  fifth  wheel  under  a 
cart. 

But  if  the  king  was  glad  when  the  drummer  answered  the  princess's 
question,  he  was  twice  as  glad  when  he  found  she  could  not  answer  his. 

All  the  same,  there  is  more  to  do  yet,  and  many  a  slip  betwixt  the  cup 
and  the  lip.  "  The  bird  I  want  is  the  one-eyed  raven,"  said  the  princess ; 
"  Now  bring  her  to  me  if  you  want  to  keep  your  head  off  of  the  wall 
yonder." 

Yes ;  the  drummer  thought  he  might  do  that  as  well  as  another  thing. 
So  off  he  went  back  of  the  house  to  talk  to  King  Stork  of  the  matter. 

"  Look,"  said  King  Stork,  and  he  drew  a  net  out  of  his  pocket  as  fine 
as  a  cobweb  and  as  white  as  milk ;  "  take  this  with  you  when  you  go 
with  the  princess  to  the  one-eyed  witch's  house  to-night,  throw  it  over 
the  witch's  head,  and  then  see  what  will  happen ;  only  when  you  catch  the 
one-eyed  raven  you  are  to  wring  her  neck  as  soon  as  you  lay  hands  on  her, 
for  if  you  don't  it  will  be  the  worse  for  you." 

Well,  that  night  off  flew  the  princess  just  as  she  had  done  before,  and 
off  flew  the  drummer  at  her  heels,  until  they  came  to  the  witch's  house, 
both  of  them. 

"And  did  you  take  his  head  this  time?"  said  the  witch. 

No,  the  princess  had  not  done  that,  for  the  drummer  had  asked  such 
and  such  a  question,  and  she  could  not  answer  it ;  all  the  same,  she  had 


302 


KING   STORK. 


him  tight  enough  now,  for  she  had  set  it  as  a  task  upon  him  that  he  should 
bring  her  the  one-eyed  raven,  and  it  was  not  likely  he  would  be  up  to 
doing  that.  After  that  the  princess  and  the  one-eyed  witch  sat  down  to 
supper  together,  and  the  drummer  served  the  princess  the  same  trick  that 
he  had  done  before,  so  that  she  got  hardly  a  bite  to  eat. 

"  See,"  said  the  old  witch  when  the  princess  was  ready  to  go,  "  I  will 
go  home  with  you  to-night,  and  see  that  you  get  there  safe  and  sound." 
So  she  brought  out  a  pair  of  wings,  just  like  those  the  princess  had,  and 
set  them  on  her  shoulders,  and  away  both  of  them  flew  with  the  drummer 
behind.  So  they  came  home  without  seeing  a  soul,  for  the  drummer  kept 
his  cap  of  darkness  tight  upon  his  head  all  the  while. 

"  Good-night,"  said  the  witch  to  the  princess,  and  "  Good-night "  said 
the  princess  to  the  witch,  and  the  one  was  for  going  one  way  and  the 
other  the  other.  But  the  drummer  had  his  wits  about  him  sharply  enough, 
and  before  the  old  witch  could  get  away  he  flung  the  net  that  King  Stork 
had  given  him  over  her  head. 

"  Hi !"  but  you  should  have  been  there  to  see  what  happened ;  for  it 
was  a  great  one-eyed  raven,  as  black  as  the  inside  of  the  chimney,  that  he 
had  in  his  net. 

Dear,  dear,  how  it  flapped  its  wings  and  struck  with  its  great  beak ! 
But  that  did  no  good,  for  the  drummer  just  wrung  its  neck,  and  there  was 
an  end  of  it. 

The  next  morning  he  wrapped  it  up  in  his  pocket-handkerchief  and  off 
he  started  for  the  king's  castle,  and  there  was  the  princess  waiting  for  him, 
looking  as  cool  as  butter  in  the  well,  for  she  felt  sure  the  drummer  was 
caught  in  the  trap  this  time. 

"  And  have  you  brought  the  one-eyed  raven  with  you  ?"  she  said. 

"  Oh,  yes,"  said  the  drummer,  and  here  it  was  wrapped  up  in  this 
handkerchief. 

But  when  the  princess  saw  the  raven  with  its  neck  wrung,  she  gave  a 
great  shriek  and  fell  to  the  floor.  There  she  lay  and  they  had  to  pick 
her  up  and  carry  her  out  of  the  room. 

But  everybody  saw  that  the  drummer  had  brought  the  bird  she  had 
asked  for,  and  all  were  as  glad  as  glad  could  be.  The  king  gave  orders 
that  they  should  fire  off  the  town  cannon,  just  as  they  did  on  his  birth- 
day, and  all  the  little  boys  out  in  the  street  flung  up  their  hats  and  caps 
and  cried,  "  Hurrah!  Hurrah!" 

But  the  drummer  went  off  back  of  the  house.     He  blew  a  turn  or  two 


"J^IjeiD  rammer  tatdjwvonttptto  rafocn  v 


on  his  whistle,  and  there  stood  King  Stork.  "  Here  is  your  dark-cap  and 
your  feather,"  says  he,  "  and  it  is  I  who  am  thankful  to  you,  for  they  have 
won  me  a  real  princess  for  a  wife." 

"  Yes,  good,"  says  King  Stork,  "  you  have  won  her,  sure  enough,  but 
the  next  thing  is  to  keep  her ;  for  a  lass  is  not  cured  of  being  a  witch  as 
quickly  as  you  seem  to  think,  and  after  one  has  found  one's  eggs  one  must 
roast  them  and  butter  them  into  the  bargain.  See  now,  the  princess  is  just 
as  wicked  as  ever  she  was  before,  and  if  you  do  not  keep  your  eyes  open 
she  will  trip  you  up  after  all.  So  listen  to  what  I  tell  you.  Just  after  you 


304  KING  STORK. 

are  married,  get  a  great  bowl  of  fresh  milk  and  a  good,  stiff  switch.  Pour 
the  milk  over  the  princess  when  you  are  alone  together,  and  after  that  hold 
tight  to  her  and  lay  on  the  switch,  no  matter  what  happens,  for  that  is 
the  only  way  to  save  yourself  and  to  save  her." 

Well,  the  drummer  promised  to  do  as  King  Stork  told  him,  and  by  and 
by  came  the  wedding-day.  Off  he  went  over  to  the  dairy  and  got  a  fresh 
pan  of  milk,  and  out  he  went  into  the  woods  and  cut  a  stout  hazel  switch, 
as  thick  as  his  finger. 

As  soon  as  he  and  the  princess  were  alone  together  he  emptied  the 
milk  all  over  her;  then  he  caught  hold  of  her  and  began  laying  on  the 
switch  for  dear  life. 

It  was  well  for  him  that  he  was  a  brave  fellow  and  had  been  to  the 
wars,  for,  instead  of  the  princess,  he  held  a  great  black  cat  that  glared  at 
him  with  her  fiery  eyes,  and  growled  and  spat  like  anything.  But  that 
did  no  good,  for  the  drummer  just  shut  his  eyes  and  laid  on  the  switch 
harder  than  ever. 

Then — puff  ! — instead  of  a  black  cat  it  was  like  a  great,  savage  wolf,  that 
snarled  and  snapped  at  the  drummer  with  its  red  jaws ;  but  the  drummer 
just  held  fast  and  made  the  switch  fly,  and  the  wolf  scared  him  no  more 
than  the  black  cat  had  done. 

So  out  it  went,  like  a  light  of  a  candle,  and  there  was  a  great  snake  that 
lashed  its  tail  and  shot  out  its  forked  tongue  and  spat  fire.  But  no ;  the 
drummer  was  no  more  frightened  at  that  than  he  had  been  at  the  wolf  and 
the  cat,  and,  dear,  dear !  how  he  dressed  the  snake  with  his  hazel  switch. 

Last  of  all,  there  stood  the  princess  herself.     "  Oh,  dear  husband  !"  she 
cried,  "  let  me  go,  and  I  will  promise  to  be  good  all  the  days  of  my  life.5' 
"  Very  well,"  says  the  drummer,  "  and  that  is  the  tune  I  like  to  hear." 

That  was  the  way  he  gained  the  best  of  her,  whether  it  was  the  bowl  of 
milk  or  the  hazel  switch,  for  afterwards  she  was  as  good  a  wife  as  ever 
churned  butter ;  but  what  did  it  is  a  question  that  you  will  have  to  answer 
for  yourself.  All  the  same,  she  tried  no  more  of  her  tricks  with  him,  I  can 
tell  you.  And  so  this  story  comes  to  an  end,  like  everything  else  in  the 
world. 


Twelve  O'clock' 


1V  1st! Hark! 
TheWarcA-c/ogs  bark . 
TheFfre  is  covered , 

T\\t  Bricks  grow  cold ; 
In  the  warmest  Corner  s 

The  brown  JCobold. 
He  sits  quite  still, 

Andnis^**  arebright. 
The  C/ocksttikes  twelve ; 

Tis  the  dead  of  Night .  L 
Snuggle  down  closer 

In  to  your  Bed, 
And  pull  theCoverlets 
Over  your  Head '. 


'rost. 


KJP. 


20 


T  he  Best  that  Life  has  to  give  • 


XXIV. 


HERE  was  a  blacksmith  who  lived  near  to  a  great, 
dark  pine  forest.  He  was  as  poor  as  charity  soup ; 
but  dear  knows  whether  that  was  his  fault  or  not,  for 
he  laid  his  troubles  upon  the  back  of  ill-luck,  as 
everybody  else  does  in  our  town. 

One  day  the  snow  lay  thick  all  over  the  ground, 
and  hunger  and  cold  sat  in  the  blacksmith's  house. 
"  I'll  go  out  into  the  forest,"  says  he,  "  and  see 

whether  I  cannot  get  a  bagful  of  pine-cones  to  make  a  fire  in  the  stove." 
So  off  he  stumped,  but  could  find  no  cones,  because  they  were  all  covered 
up  with  white.  On  into  the  woods  he  went,  farther  and  farther  and  deeper 
and  deeper,  until  he  came  to  a  high  hill,  all  of  bare  rock.  There  he  found  a 
clear  place  and  more  pine-cones  scattered  over  the  ground  than  a  body 
could  count.  He  filled  his  basket,  and  it  did  not  take  him  long  to  do  that. 

But  he  was  not  to  get  his  pine-cones  for  nothing :  click  !  clack ! — a  great 
door  opened  in  the  side  of  the  hill,  and  out  stepped  a  little  dwarf,  as  ugly  as 
ugly  could  be,  for  his  head  was  as  big  as  a  cabbage,  his  hair  as  red  as 
carrots,  and  his  eyes  as  green  as  a  snake's. 

"  So,"  said  he,  "  you  are  stealing  my  pine-cones,  are  you  ?  And  there 
are  none  in  the  world  like  them.  Look  your  last  on  the  sunlight,  for  now 
you  shall  die." 

Down  fell  the  blacksmith  on  his  knees.  "  Alas !"  said  he,  "  I  did  not 
know  that  they  were  your  pine-cones.  I  will  empty  them  out  of  my  sack 
and  find  some  elsewhere." 


3o8  THE   BEST  THAT   LIFE  HAS  TO  GIVE. 

"  No,"  said  the  dwarf,  "  it  is  too  late  to  do  that  now.  But  listen,  you 
might  hunt  the  world  over,  and  find  no  such  pine-cones  as  these;  so  we 
will  strike  a  bit  of  a  bargain  between  us.  You  shall  go  in  peace  with 
your  pine-cones  if  you  will  give  me  what  lies  in  the  bread -trough  at 
home." 

"  Oh,  yes,"  said  the  blacksmith,  "  I  will  do  that  gladly." 

"  Very  well,"  said  the  dwarf,  "  I  will  come  for  my  pay  at  the  end  of 
seven  days,"  and  back  he  went  into  the  hill  again,  and  the  door  shut  to 
behind  him. 

Off  went  the  blacksmith,  chuckling  to  himself.  "  It  is  the  right  end  of 
the  bargain  that  I  have  this  time,"  said  he. 

But,  bless  you !  he  talked  of  that  horse  before  he  had  looked  into  its 
mouth,  as  my  Uncle  Peter  used  to  say.  For,  listen :  while  his  wife  sat  at 
home  spinning,  she  wrapped  the  baby  in  a  blanket  and  laid  it  in  the  bread- 
trough,  because  it  was  empty  and  as  good  as  a  cradle.  And  that  was  what 
the  dwarf  spoke  of,  for  he  knew  what  had  been  done  over  at  the  black- 
smith's house. 

But  the  blacksmith  was  as  happy  as  a  cricket  under  the  hearth ;  on  he 
plodded,  kicking  up  the  soft  snow  with  his  toes ;  but  all  the  time  the  basket 
of  pine-cones  kept  growing  heavier  and  heavier. 

"  Come,"  said  he,  at  last,  "  I  can  carry  this  load  no  farther,  some  of  the 
pine-cones  must  be  left  behind."  So  he  opened  the  basket  to  throw  a 
parcel  of  them  out.  But — 

Hi!  how  he  did  stare!  for  every  one  of  those  pine-cones  had  turned  to 
pure  silver  as  white  as  the  frost  on  the  window-pane.  After  that  he  was  for 
throwing  none  of  them  away,  but  for  carrying  all  of  them  home,  if  he  broke 
his  back  at  it,  and  upon  that  you  may  depend. 

"  And  I  had  them  all  for  nothing,"  said  he  to  his  wife ;  "  for  the  dwarf 
gave  them  to  me  for  what  was  in  the  bread-trough,  and  I  knew  very  well 
that  there  was  nothing  there." 

"  Alas,"  said  she,  "  what  have  you  done !  the  baby  is  sleeping  there,  and 
has  been  sleeping  there  all  the  morning." 

When  the  blacksmith  heard  this  he  scratched  his  head,  and  looked  up 
and  looked  down,  for  he  had  burned  his  fingers  with  the  hot  end  of  the 
bargain  after  all.  All  the  same,  there  was  nothing  left  but  to  make  the  best 
that  he  could  of  it.  So  he  took  two  or  three  of  the  silver  pine-cones  to  the 
town  and  bought  plenty  to  eat,  and  plenty  to  drink,  and  warm  things  to 
wear  into  the  bargain. 


At  the  end  of  seven  days  up  came  the  dwarf  and  knocked  at  the  black- 
smith's house. 

"  Well,  and  is  the  baby  ready?"  said  he,  "  for  I  have  come  to  fetch  it." 

But  the  blacksmith's  wife  begged  and  prayed  and  prayed  and  begged 
that  the  baby  might  be  spared  to  her.  "  Let  us  keep  it  for  seven  years  at 
least,"  said  she,  "  for  what  can  you  want  with  a  young  baby  in  the  house?" 

Yes,  that  was  very  true.  Young  babies  were  troublesome  things  to  have 
about  the  house,  and  the  woman  might  keep  it  for  seven  years  since  she 
was  anxious  to  do  so.  So  off  went  the  dwarf,  and  the  woman  had  what  she 
wanted,  for  seven  years  is  a  long  time  to  put  off  our  troubles. 

But  at  the  end  of  that  time  up  came  the  dwarf  a  second  time. 


310  THE  BEST  THAT   LIFE   HAS  TO  GIVE. 

"  Well,  is  the  boy  ready  now  ?"  said  he,  "  for  I  have  come  to  take  him." 

"  Yes,  yes,"  says  the  woman,  "  the  boy  is  yours,  but  why  not  leave  him 
for  another  seven  years,  for  he  is  very  young  to  be  out  in  the  world  yet  ?" 

Yes,  that  was  true,  and  so  the  dwarf  put  off  taking  him  for  seven  years 
longer. 

But  when  it  had  passed,  back  he  came  again,  and  this  time  it  did  no 
good  for  his  mother  and  father  to  beg  and  pray,  for  he  had  put  off  his 
bargain  long  enough,  and  now  he  was  for  having  what  was  his. 

"  All  the  same,"  says  he  to  the  blacksmith,  "  if  you  will  come  after  five 
years  to  the  place  in  the  woods  where  you  saw  me,  you  shall  have  your  son, 
if  you  choose  to  take  him."  And  off  he  went  with  the  lad  at  his  heels. 

Well,  after  five  years  had  passed,  the  blacksmith  went  into  the  forest  to 
find  the  dwarf  and  to  bring  back  his  son  again. 

There  was  the  dwarf  waiting  for  him,  and  in  his  hand  he  held  a  basket. 
"  Well,  neighbor,"  says  he,  "  and  have  you  come  to  fetch  your  son  again  ?" 

Yes,  that  was  what  the  blacksmith  wanted. 

"  Very  well,"  says  the  dwarf,  "  here  he  is,  and  aH  that  you  have  to  do  is 
to  take  him."  He  opened  the  basket,  and  inside  was  a  wren,  a  thrush,  and 
a  dove. 

"  But  which  of  the  three  is  the  lad?"  says  the  blacksmith. 

"  That  is  for  you  to  tell,  neighbor,"  says  the  dwarf. 

The  blacksmith  looked  and  looked,  and  first  he  thought  it  might  be  the 
wren,  and  then  he  thought  it  might  be  the  thrush,  and  then  he  thought  it 
might  be  the  dove.  But  he  was  afraid  to  choose  any  one  of  the  three,  lest 
he  should  not  be  right  in  the  choosing.  So  he  shook  his  head  and  sighed, 
and  was  forced  at  last  to  go  away  with  empty  hands. 

Out  by  the  edge  of  the  forest  sat  an  old  woman  spinning  flax  from  a 
distaff. 

"  Whither  away,  friend  ?"  said  she,  "  and  why  do  you  wear  such  a  sorrow- 
ful face?" 

The  blacksmith  stopped  and  told  her  the  whole  story  from  beginning  to 
end.  "  Tut !"  said  the  old  woman,  "  you  should  have  chosen  the  dove,  for 
that  was  your  son  for  sure  and  certain." 

"  There  !"  said  the  blacksmith,  "  if  I  had  only  known  that  in  the  first 
place  it  would  have  saved  me  so  much  leg  wear,"  and  back  he  went,  hot- 
foot, to  find  the  dwarf  and  to  get  his  son  again. 

There  was  the  dwarf  waiting  for  him  with  a  basket  on  his  arm,  but  this 
time  it  was  a  sparrow  and  a  magpie  and  a  lark  that  were  in  it,  and  the 


tye  blacbsmitl)  c^oo0e0  p  ta 

toeti  anbrtm*  atoa^  toit^ft . 


312 


THE   BEST  THAT   LIFE   HAS  TO   GIVE. 


blacksmith  might  take  which  of  the  three  he  liked,  for  one  of  them  was  his 
own  son. 

The  man  looked  and  looked,  and  could  make  nothing  of  it,  so  all  that 
he  could  do  was  to  shake  his  head  and  turn  away  again  with  empty  hands. 

Out  by  the  edge  of  the  forest  sat  the  old  woman  spinning.  "  Prut !" 
says  she,  "you  should  have  chosen  the  lark,  for  it  was  your  son  for  sure 
and  certain.  But  listen ;  go  back  and  try  again  ;  look  each  bird  in  the  eyes, 
and  choose  where  you  find  tears ;  for  nothing  but  the  human  soul  weeps." 

Back  went  the  man  into  the  forest  for  the  third  time,  and  there  was  the 
dwarf  just  as  before,  only  this  time  it  was  a  sparrow  and  a  jackdaw  and  a 
raven  that  he  had  in  his  basket. 

The  man  looked  at  each  of  the  three  in  turn,  and  there  were  tears  in  the 
raven's  eyes. 

"  This  is  the  one  I  choose,"  said  he,  and  he  snatched  it  and  ran.  And 
it  was  his  son  and  none  other  whom  he  held. 

As  for  the  dwarf,  he  stood  and  stamped  his  feet  and  tore  his  hair,  but 
that  was  all  he  could  do,  for  one  must  abide  by  one's  bargain,  no  matter 
what  happens. 

You  can  guess  how  glad  the  father  and  the  mother  were  to  have  their 
son  back  home  again.  But  the  lad  just  sat  back  of  the  stove  and  warmed 
his  shins,  and  stared  into  the  Land  of  Nowhere,  without  doing  a  stroke  of 
work  from  morning  till  night.  At  last  the  father  could  stand  it  no  longer, 
for,  though  one  is  glad  to  have  one's  own  safe  under  the  roof  at  home,  it 
is  another  thing  to  have  one's  own  doing  nothing  the  livelong  day  but  sit 
back  of  the  stove  and  eat  good  bread  and  meat ;  for  the  silver  pine-cones 
were  gone  by  this  time,  and  good  things  were  no  more  plentiful  in  the 
blacksmith's  house  than  they  had  been  before. 

"  Come !"  says  he  to  lazy-boots  one  day,  "  is  there  nothing  at  all  that 
you  can  do  to  earn  the  salt  you  eat  ?" 

"  Oh,  yes,"  said  the  lad,  "  I  have  learned  many  things,  and  one  over  at 
the  dwarf's  house  yonder,  for  the  dwarf  is  a  famous  blacksmith."  So  out 
he  came  from  behind  the  stove,  and  brushed  the  ashes  from  his  hair,  and 
went  out  into  the  forge. 

"  Give  me  a  piece  of  iron,"  says  he,  "  and  I  will  show  you  a  trick 
or  two  worth  the  knowing." 

"  Yes,"  says  the  blacksmith,  "  you  shall  have  the  iron ;  all  the  same  I 
know  that  it  is  little  or  nothing  that  you  know  about  the  hammer  and 
the  tongs." 


THE   BEST  THAT  LIFE   HAS  TO   GIVE. 


313 


But  the  young  fellow  answered  nothing.  He  made  a  bed  of  hot  coals, 
and  laid  the  iron  in  it. 

"  Here,"  said  he  to  his  father, "  do  you  blow  the  bellows  till  I  come 
back,  and  be  sure  that  you  do  not  stop  for  so  much  as  a  wink,  or  else 
all  will  be  spoiled."  So  he  gave  the  handle  into  the  blacksmith's  hand  and 
off  he  went. 

The  old  man  blew  the  bellows  and  blew  the  bellows,  but  the  dwarf 
over  in  the  forest  knew  what  was  being  done  as  well  as  though  he 
stood  in  the  forge.  He  was  not  for  letting  the  lad  steal  his  tricks  if  he 
could  help  it.  So  he  changed  himself  into  a  great  fly,  and  came  and 
lit  on  the  blacksmith's  neck,  and  bit  him  till  the  blood  ran  ;  but  the 
blacksmith  just  shut  his  eyes  tight,  and  grinned  and  bore  it,  and  blew  the 
bellows  and  blew  the  bellows. 

By  and  by  the  lad  came  in,  and  the  fly  flew  away.  He  drew  the  iron 
out  of  the  fire,  and  dipped  it  in  the  water,  and  what  do  you  think  it  was  ? 
Why,  a  golden  tree  with  a  little  golden  bird  sitting  in  the  branches,  with 
bright  jewels  for  its  eyes. 

The  lad  drew  a  little  silver  wand  from  his  pocket,  and  gave  the  tree 
a  tap,  and  the  bird  began  to  hop  from  branch  to  branch,  and  to  sing  so 
sweetly  that  it  made  one's  heart  stand  still  to  listen  to  it. 

As  for  the  blacksmith,  he  just  stood  and  gaped  and  stared,  with  his 
mouth  and  eyes  as  wide  open  as  if  they  never  would  shut  again. 

Now  there  was  no  king  in  that  country,  but  a  queen  who  lived  in  a 
grand  castle  on  a  high  hill,  and  was  as  handsome  a  one  as  ever  a  body's 
eyes  looked  upon. 

"  Here,"  says  the  lad  to  his  father,  "  take  this  up  to  the  queen  at  the 
castle  yonder,  and  she  will  pay  you  well  for  it."  Then  he  went  and  sat 
down  back  of  the  stove  again,  and  toasted  his  shins  and  stared  at  nothing 
at  all. 

Up  went  the  blacksmith  to  the  queen's  castle  with  the  golden  bird  and 
the  golden  tree  wrapped  up  in  his  pocket-handkerchief.  Dear,  dear,  how 
the  queen  did  look  and  listen  and  wonder,  when  she  saw  how  pretty  it 
was,  and  heard  how  sweetly  the  little  golden  bird  sang.  She  called  her 
steward  and  bade  him  give  the  blacksmith  a  whole  bag  of  gold  and  silver 
money  for  it,  and  off  went  the  man  as  pleased  as  pleased  could  be. 

And  now  they  lived  upon  the  very  best  of  good  things  over  at  the 
blacksmith's  house ;  but  good  things  cost  money,  and  by  and  by  the  last 
penny  was  spent  of  what  the  queen  had  given  him,  and  nothing  would  do 


314  THE   BEST  THAT  LIFE   HAS  TO  GIVE. 

but  for  the  lad  to  go  out  and  work  a  little  while  at  the  forge.  So  up  he 
got  from  back  of  the  stove,  and  out  he  went  into  the  forge.  He  made  a 
bed  of  coals  and  laid  the  iron  upon  it. 

"  Now,"  says  he  to  his  father,  "  do  you  blow  the  bellows  till  I  come 
back,"  and  off  he  went. 

Well,  the  old  man  took  the  handle  and  blew  and  blew,  but  the  dwarf 
knew  what  was  going  on  this  time,  just  as  well  as  he  had  done  before.  He 
changed  himself  into  a  fly,  and  came  and  lit  on  the  blacksmith's  neck,  and 
dear,  dear,  how  he  did  bite  !  The  blacksmith  shut  his  eyes  and  grinned, 
but  at  last  he  could  bear  it  no  longer.  He  raised  his  hand  and  slapped  at 
the  fly,  but  away  it  flew  with  never  a  hair  hurt. 

In  came  the  lad  and  drew  the  iron  out  of  the  fire  and  plunged  it  into 
the  water,  and  there  it  was  a  beautiful  golden  comb  that  shone  like  fire. 
But  the  lad  was  not  satisfied  with  that.  "  You  should  have  done  as  I 
told  you,"  said  he,  "  and  have  stopped  at  nothing ;  for  now  the  work  is 
spoiled." 

The  blacksmith  vowed  and  declared  that  he  had  not  stopped  from 
blowing  the  bellows,  but  the  lad  knew  better  than  that ;  for  there  should 
have  been  a  golden  looking-glass  as  well  as  the  comb.  The  one  was  of  no 
use  without  the  other,  for  when  one  looked  in  the  golden  looking-glass,  and 
combed  one's  hair  with  the  golden  comb,  one  grew  handsomer  every  day, 
and  the  lad  had  intended  both  for  the  queen. 

"  All  the  same,"  said  the  old  man,  "  I  will  take  the  golden  comb  up  to 

the  castle ;"  and  it  did  no  good  for  the  lad  to  shake  his  head  and  say  no. 

"  For,"  says  the  father,  "  old  heads  are  wise  heads ;    and  the  queen  will 

like  this  as  well  as  the  other."     So  up  to  the  castle  he  would  go,  and  up 

*to  the  castle  he  went. 

But  when  the  queen  saw  the  golden  comb  her  brows  grew  as  black  as 
a  thunder-storm.  "  Where  is  the  looking-glass  ?"  said  she ;  and  though  the 
old  man  vowed  and  declared  that  no  looking-glass  belonged  with  the  comb, 
she  knew  a  great  deal  better.  So,  now,  the  blacksmith  might  have  his 
choice ;  he  should  either  bring  her  the  looking-glass  that  belonged  to  the 
golden  comb  or  bring  her  that  which  was  the  best  in  all  the  world.  If  he 
did  neither  of  these  he  should  be  thrown  into  a  deep  pit  full  of  toads  and 
vipers. 

Back  went  the  old  man  home  again  and  told  the  lad  all  that  had 
happened  from  beginning  to  end.  And  then  he  wanted  to  know  what 
he  should  do  to  get  himself  out  of  his  pickle. 


\)t  black*mitlj  bring*  p  toon 

Derful  little  birban&  tree  to  £  fiUuten 


3i6  THE   BEST  THAT  LIFE  HAS  TO   GIVE. 

Well,  it  was  no  easy  task  to  make  what  the  queen  wanted ;  all  the 
same,  the  lad  would  try  what  he  could  do.  So  he  rolled  up  his  sleeves 
and  out  he  went  into  the  forge  and  laid  a  piece  of  iron  upon  the  bed  of 
hot  coals. 

This  time  he  would  not  trust  the  old  man  to  blow  the  bellows  for  him, 
but  took  the  handle  into  his  own  hand  and  blew  and  blew. 

The  dwarf  knew  what  was  happening  this  time  as  well  as  before.  He 
changed  himself  into  a  fly  and  came  and  sat  on  the  lad's  forehead,  and 
bit  until  the  blood  ran  down  into  his  eyes  and  blinded  him ;  but  the  lad 
blew  the  bellows  and  blew  the  bellows. 

First  the  fire  burned  red,  and  then  it  burned  white,  and  then  it  burned 
£>lue,  and  after  that  the  work  was  done. 

Then  the  young  man  raised  his  hand  and  struck  the  fly  and  killed  it, 
and  that  was  an  end  of  the  dwarf  for  good  and  all. 

What  he  had  made  he  dipped  into  the  water  and  it  was  a  gold  ring, 
nothing  less  nor  more.  He  took  a  sharp  knife  and  drew  charms  upon  it, 
and  inside  of  the  circle  he  wrote  these  words : 

"  WHO  WEARS  THIS  SHALL  HAVE  THE  BEST 
THAT  THE  WORLD   HAS  TO  GIVE." 

"  Here,"  said  the  lad  to  his  father,  "  take  this  up  to  the  queen,  for  it  is 
what  she  wants,  and  there  is  nothing  better  in  the  world." 

Off  marched  the  old  man  and  gave  the  ring  to  the  queen,  and  she 
slipped  it  on  her  finger. 

That  was  how  the  blacksmith  saved  his  own  skin ;  but  the  poor  queen 
did  nothing  but  just  sit  and  look  out  of  the  window,  and  sigh  and 
sigh. 

After  a  while  she  called  her  steward  to  her  and  bade  him  go  over  and 
tell  the  blacksmith's  son  to  come  to  her. 

There  sat  the  lad  back  of  the  stove.  "  Prut !"  said  he,  "  she  must  send 
a  better  than  you  if  she  would  have  me  come  to  her."  So  the  steward 
had  just  to  go  back  to  the  castle  again  and  tell  the  queen  what  the  lad 
had  said. 

Then  the  queen  called  her  chief  minister  to  her.  "  Do  you  go,"  said 
she,  "  and  bid  the  lad  come  to  me." 

There  sat  the  lad  back  of  the  stove.  "  Prut !"  said  he,  "  she  must  send 
a  better  than  you  if  she  would  have  me  come  to  her." 

Off  went  the  minister  and  told  the  queen  what  he  had  said,  and  the 


ksst  ttyat  JLih  l)a  «s  to  gibe* 


3i8  THE   BEST  THAT   LIFE   HAS  TO   GIVE. 

queen  saw  as  plain  as  the  nose  on  her  face  that  she  must  go  herself  if 
she  would  have  the  lad  come  at  her  bidding. 

There  sat  the  lad  back  of  the  stove.  And  would  he  come  with  her 
now? 

Yes,  indeed,  that  he  would.  So  he  slipped  from  behind  the  stove  and 
took  her  by  the  hand,  and  they  walked  out  of  the  house  and  up  to  her 
castle  on  the  high  hill,  for  that  was  where  he  belonged  now.  There  they 
were  married,  and  ruled  the  land  far  and  near.  For  it  is  one  thing  to 
be  a  blacksmith  of  one  kind,  and  another  thing  to  be  a  blacksmith  of 
another  kind,  and  that  is  the  truth,  whether  you  believe  it  or  not. 

And  did  the  queen  really  get  the  best  in  the  world  ?  Bless  your  heart, 
my  dear,  wait  until  you  are  as  old  as  I  am,  and  have  been  married  as 
long,  and  you  will  be  able  to  answer  that  question  without  the  asking. 


HIC   LIBER   CAPITE  NOSTRO   FACTUS   EST   MANUQUE  NOSTRA 


RIDEANT   HOMINUM   STULTITIAS   STULTI,  SED 

NE,  QUOD   IN   STULTITIIS   HOMINUM 

HOMINIS   ALIQUID   EST, 

OMNIA   IN   LEVI 

HABEAMUS 

* 


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